• Sophomores Zach Hobbs of Mesa, Ariz., and Willie Guy of Cedar Rapids lead DMACC with 26 and 23 points respectively
• Sophomore Ryan Schmitt of Van Meter contributes 15 points
• Bears fight back from 12-point deficit in the first half

Sophomores Zach Hobbs of Mesa, Ariz., and Willie Guy of Cedar Rapids scored 26 and 23 points respectively as the DMACC men's basketball team defeated Mott Community College (MCC), 81-75, in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII Men's Basketball Championship April 21 at Danville, Ill.

The win guarantees the Bears a top four finish in the tournament. DMACC, making its fifth appearance in the national tournament, finished fourth in 2002 and 2015 and was eighth in 2007.

DMACC, seeded second and ranked third in the NJCAA Division II poll, trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and improved to 19-5 with the win. The Bears will face either Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) or Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) in the semifinals on April 23. ILCC, a DMACC rival in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) and tournament's No. 6 seed, will play HFCC in a quarterfinal matchup tonight.

DMACC won both of its regular season games against ILCC, defeating the Lakers 71-62 Jan. 30 inside the DMACC gymnasium and come away with a 78-74 decision March 10 at Estherville.

Guy hit a pair of free throws and Hobbs scored eight points, including back-to-back three pointers, as DMACC grabbed a 10-3 lead in the opening minutes of its quarterfinal game against MCC. But MCC scored 12 unanswered points during a 23-4 run that gave the Bears their biggest lead of the game at 26-14. They settled for a 37-33 halftime lead.

DMACC took its first lead since the opening minutes at the 16:07 mark of the second half when Guy made two free throws to put the Bears ahead, 44-43. MCC answered seconds later to go up 45-44 and that was its last lead of the game. DMACC responded with a 16-8 run for a 60-53 advantage with less than 11 minutes to play.

Sophomore Ryan Schmitt of Van Meter, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, scored six straight points as DMACC opened up a 10-point advantage at 66-56 lead with 8 minutes, 1 second remaining. The Bears also led 68-58 before 10 unanswered points by MCC tied the game at 68 with less than three minutes left.

DMACC went ahead 72-68 when Hobbs hit a three-pointer, was fouled on the shot and made the free throw. Guy added a pair of baskets for a 76-68 advantage and MCC never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

DMACC shot 49 percent in the win, hitting 27 of 55 field goal attempts. The Bears were 7-of-17 from three-point range and 20-of-21 from the free throw line. Hobbs hit six of his eight three-point attempts and Guy was a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line.

Both teams came away with 33 rebounds and Schmitt's eight rebounds led DMACC. Guy dished out seven assists and Hobbs had three. Hobbs led the Bears in steals with three.

The DMACC-ILCC/HFCC winner will play for the national championship. The game will be played at 7 p.m. on April 24. The third-place game is set for 5:30 p.m. on April 24.