Alleruzzo, Lester, Schmitt lead DMACC men's basketball team past Central (Neb.)

Alleruzzo, Lester, Schmitt lead DMACC men's basketball team past Central (Neb.)

Sophomore Barlow Alleruzzo of Chicago, Ill., scored 19 points and sophomore Zach Lester of Clear Lake and freshman Ryan Schmitt of Van Meter recorded double-doubles as the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men's basketball team defeated Central (Neb.) Community College (CNCC), 74-62, January 28 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

 

Lester had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win and Schmitt added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Freshmen Willie Guy of Cedar Rapids and Mike Hartford of McKinney, Texas, also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.

 

DMACC, ranked seventh in this week's Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), improved to 19-3 with the win. The Bears made 16 of 28 field goal attempts in the first half, but led just 33-32 at halftime. They used a 41-point second half to come away with the win.

 

DMACC shot 53 percent from the field, making 31 of 59 field goal attempts. The Bears were 5-of-18 from three-point range and 7-of-11 from the free throw line.

 

Lester and Schmitt lifted DMACC to a 41-28 advantage on the boards. Guy led DMACC in assists with seven and joined Lester and Hartford with two steals each.

 

The DMACC men's basketball team returns to Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) play Feb. 1 when the Bears face North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) at Mason City. DMACC leads the ICCAC with a 6-1 record. NIACC, ranked 12th in NJCAA Division II, is 17-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference. DMACC defeated the then fourth-ranked Trojans, 107-63, when the two teams squared off Jan. 11 inside the DMACC gymnasium. The Bears took a No. 5 national ranking into that game.