DMACC men's basketball team improves to 5-1 with two wins

DMACC men's basketball team improves to 5-1 with two wins

The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men's basketball team ran its record to 5-1 with a pair of wins in the Baymont Inn & Suites Classic Nov. 15 and 16 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

 

The Bears surpassed the century mark for the second consecutive game with a 140-18 win over County Upper Academy (CUA) on Nov. 15 and defeated Morton College (MC), 73-56, on Nov. 16. The wins were the fourth and fifth consecutive for DMACC, ranked 19th in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

 

Sophomore Demarion Bariffe-Smith of Skokie, Ill., led seven players in double figures with 20 points in the Bears' win over CUA. Sophomore Barlow Alleruzzo of Chicago, Ill., scored 17 points, freshmen Mike Hartford of McKinney, Texas, and sophomore Jal Bijiek of Des Moines finished with 16 points apiece and freshman Rhett Darland of Clarion came away with 15 points. Freshman Mark Bradshaw of Chester, Penn., reached double figures with 14 points and sophomore Zach Lester of Clear Lake scored 13 points.

 

DMACC led 79-6 at halftime.

 

The Bears shot 67 percent, draining 58 of 87 field goal attempts. They were 16-of-23 from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

 

DMACC had a 53-18 advantage in rebounding with freshman Bradley Day of Mildenhall, Suffolk, UK, leading DMACC with 15 rebounds. Bradshaw led the Bears in assists with 10 and freshman Willie Guy of Cedar Rapids added nine. Bradshaw also led the way in steals with six and Lester came away with five. Bijiek recorded two blocked shots.

 

Sophomore Ty Majlik-Autry of St. Petersburg, Fla., scored 24 points, Bariffe-Smith had 16 and freshman Ryan Schmitt of Van Meter scored 13 in DMACC's win over MC. The Bears had a 33-19 advantage at halftime.

 

DMACC shot 44 percent, making 23 of 52 field goal attempts. The Bears were 8-of-25 from three-point range and 19-of-23 from the free throw line.

 

Schmitt had eight rebounds, Guy came away with seven and Bariffe-Smith finished with six as DMACC had a 41-25 advantage on the boards. Hartford led the Bears in assists with six and Guy came away with four.

 

The DMACC men's basketball team will face Highland Community College (HCC) Nov. 19 inside the DMACC gymnasium. Game time is 7:30 p.m. HCC is 6-0 and is ranked second in the NJCAA Division II poll.