DMACC men's basketball team upsets second-ranked HCC, 65-54

DMACC men's basketball team upsets second-ranked HCC, 65-54

Freshman Mark Bradshaw of Chester, Penn., scored 16 points and sophomore Demarion Bariffe-Smith of Skokie, Ill., had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men's basketball team to a 65-54 upset of Highland Community College (HCC) November 19 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

 

HCC came into the game at 6-0 and ranked second in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). DMACC, which improved to 6-1 with its sixth consecutive victory, is 16th in NJCAA Division II.

 

The Bears drained 10 of 25 field goals in the first half, including 7-of-16 from three-point range, and limited HCC to 29 percent from the field as they opened up a 34-24 advantage at halftime. That lead came behind a 10-2 run in the last eight minutes of the half. DMACC led by as many as 17 points in the second half. HCC closed to within six points with less than four minutes to play but got no closer.

 

For the game, DMACC was 19-of-51 for 37 percent. The Bears made nine of 28 shots from beyond the arc and connected on 18 of 22 free throw attempts.

 

Bariffe-Smith's 13 rebounds lifted DMACC to a 45-41 advantage on the boards. Freshman Ryan Schmitt of Van Meter grabbed eight rebounds, sophomore Zach Lester of Clear Lake had seven and freshmen Mike Hartford of McKinney, Texas, finished with six. Bariffe-Smith dished out a team-high five assists and freshman Willie Guy of Cedar Rapids contributed four. Bariffe-Smith and Schmitt had two steals apiece.

 

The DMACC men's basketball team will play in the Iowa Western Classic Nov. 22 and 23 at Council Bluffs. The Bears will face Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) on Nov. 23 and will play Cloud County Community College (CCCC) on Nov. 23.