MCC men drop Nebraska conference game at CCC

COLUMBUS – The McCook Community College men’s basketball team lost a 91-79 decision to Central Community College Saturday to start the second half of the season.

After the game was tied 37-37 at halftime, Central outscored MCC 54-42 in the second half to even the season series at a game apiece. Both teams are now 1-1 in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference.

“With our first game back from a long Christmas break we struggled to guard in the second half,” said MCC Coach Dillon Hargrove. “We were not disciplined defenders and that is on me.”

The Raiders took control of the game hitting on 17 of 33 second-half shots (51.5 percent) and going eight-for-17 from beyond the 3-point line (47.1 percent). For the game Central went 43.4 percent from the field, making 12 or 33 from distance (36.4 percent) and connecting on 19 of 25 free throws (76 percent).

Central won the rebound battle 42-32. The Raider bench outscored MCC 32-10.                                 

All five MCC starters and one player off the bench scored in double figures.

“Offensively we did a good job of getting to the rim but outside shots were not falling,” said Hargrove.

Freshman Nate Coley, (Little Rock, Ark.) led the way with 24 points. Da'Shawn Hall-Johnson (freshman, Bridgeport, Conn.) scored 13, Madison Peaster (sophomore, Little Rock, Ark.) and freshman Robinson (Waterbury, Conn.) both scored 11 and sophomore Dave Olaniyi (Newark, N.J.) chipped in 10 points.

Freshman Vladimir Brkovic (Uzice, Serbia) came off the bench to score 10 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Coley and Robinson both had six boards.

MCC shot 38.2 percent from the field, made eight of 30 from the 3-point arc (26.7 percent) and made 13 of 19 free throws (68.4 percent.)

Central improves to 7-10 on the season and 1-1 in the Nebraska conference.

MCC falls to 8-8 on the season and 1-1 in the Nebraska conference.

The Indians turn their attention to the Region IX South, which begins Friday in Colorado as MCC takes on Otero College followed with a Saturday game at Trinidad State.

“We will have our guys prepared and ready to compete for upcoming region play,” said Hargrove.” As a staff we have confidence that all our players will put in the work.”

MCC returns to the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center Jan. 17 for a three-game stretch taking on Lamar followed with a Sunday game in the NCCAC against Southeast Community College Jan. 26 and a Jan. 28 game against Western Nebraska.

Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com