DMACC men's basketball team opens Region XI play with victory

Devonta Prince goes up for the dunk

Sophomore Tray Buchanan of East Moline, Ill., scored 18 points and sophomores DeShawn Davidson of Waukegan, Ill., and Devonta Prince of Brooklyn Center, Minn., came away with 11 and 10 points respectively as the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men's basketball team defeated Ellsworth Community College (ECC), 62-55, in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI Division II Basketball Championship March 5 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

 

The Bears led 35-27 at halftime in beating ECC for the third time this season. DMACC, seeded fourth, will face top-seeded Kirkwood Community College (KCC) March 7 at Cedar Rapids. KCC beat Southwestern Community College (SWCC), 106-52, in another first-round game.

 

DMACC defeated ECC despite shooting just 34 percent for the game. The Bears were 16-of-47 from the field, including 4-of-21 from three-point range, and made 26 of 35 free throw attempts.

 

ECC dominated the boards, 47-28, with Davidson's eight rebounds leading the Bears. He also topped DMACC in assists with five and Buchanan led the way in steals with four.

 

KCC defeated DMACC in both regular-season matchups. The Eagles were victorious by a 92-76 score Jan. 9 at Cedar Rapids and came away with a 94-78 win Feb. 21 inside the DMACC gymnasium.