MCC men suffer second close loss of weekend in Illini state

RIVER GROVE, Ill. – The McCook Community College men dropped their second game in the Triton College Classic losing 78-73 Saturday to Sauk Valley Community College (Dixon, Ill.).

“This was another tough game that came down to the last four minutes,” said MCC Coach Dillon Hargrove. “We were able to take the lead late but couldn’t get the stops we needed to win the game.”

The Skyhawk zone defense gave MCC trouble all game according to the coach. Sauk Valley was credited with 14 blocked shots and six steals.

“I thought we ran our stuff well, just didn’t make the shots we needed to,” he said.

The Indians shot 32.3 percent from the field in the first half and missed all nine of their 3-pointers. Despite connecting on five of 17 shots from the 3-point line in the second half, MCC’s field goal percent actually dropped to 31.8 percent in the second half.

“We have to be able to shoot it better,” said Hargrove. “Any time you shoot it 32 percent from the field for the game, you’re going to have a tough time winning it.”

The Skyhawks shot 47.5 percent from the field including nine-for-21 from the 3-point line (42.9 percent) and sank 13 of 14 free throws (92.9 percent). The Skyhawks outrebounded MCC 39-38 and committed 19 turnovers compared to 14 for the Indians.

“We had too many turnovers in the first half of the game,” said Hargrove. “Credit to their defense for making us uncomfortable, but we have to value the basketball more.”

Freshman Jason Robinson (Waterbury, Conn.) led MCC with 22 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Da'Shawn Hall-Johnson (Bridgeport, Conn.) had eight points.

Sophomores Norris Bourne Jr. (Beaumont, Texas) and Dave Olaniyi (Newark, N.J.) came off the bench to score 12 and 11 points respectively and freshman Vladimir Brkovic (Uzice, Serbia) chipped in seven points.

MCC goes to 3-4 on the year and hopes to get back to the .500 mark at home Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Hastings College JV team. The Indians begin Nebraska Community College Conference play against Central Community College Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

“I’m disappointed with the results from the two games on this road trip but happy to be coming back home for the next couple of games,” said Hargrove. “We need to focus in and find our rhythm in those games.”