MCC men raise early hoops season record to 3-1

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The McCook Community College men's basketball team improved to 3-1 Wednesday with a 78-67 win over Dodge City Community College. The win gives MCC wins on back-to-back nights against Jayhawk conference teams and snaps the Indians' five-game losing streak to Dodge City dating back to their 2012 matchup.

"I thought our guys played with a ton of heart tonight," said MCC Coach Dillon Hargrove. "It is always a hard deal to play back-to-back nights."

Both teams had a slow start to the game as MCC made just one of its first seven shots in the game while it took the Conquistadores seven minutes before they hit their first bucket of the game. In a sluggish first half, MCC had an 18-9 lead but it was Dodge City which led at the half 27-25 with both teams shooting under 25 percent from the field and a combined three-for 26 from the 3-point line (11.5 percent) and 18 combined turnovers.

The Indians picked up the offense in the second half shooting 53.8 percent and finished the game going 37.5 percent from the field and seven-for-26 from the 3-point line (26.9 percent) and 29 of 44 from the free-throw line (65.9 percent).

"The guys followed our defensive game plan and really came alive in the second half offensively," said Hargrove.

Dodge City finished shooting 27 percent from the field, five-for-26 from the 3-point line (19.2 percent) and made 28 of 39 shots from the line (71.8 percent).

Freshman Nate Coley, (Little Rock, Ark.) kept MCC in the game in the first half with 11 points. He finished with 19, including a three-for-six performance from the arc. Sophomore Norris Bourne Jr. (Beaumont, Texas) led MCC with 22 points going 10 of 14 from the line.

Sophomore Madison Peaster (Little Rock, Ark.) scored 15 points and led MCC with nine rebounds and freshman Vladimir Brkovic (Uzice, Serbia) came off the bench to score 13.

The two teams combined to commit 57 fouls and took 83 free throws.

The Conquistadores outrebounded MCC 42-36 including a 16-8 edge on offensive boards. MCC turned the ball over 15 times to 19 for Dodge City.

MCC (3-1) will play at Garden City Tuesday. This will be a rematch from MCC's home-opening win Tuesday over the Broncbusters 76-70.

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