The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men's basketball team began the 2018-19 season successfully, recording victories against the William Penn University junior varsity (WPUJV) and Southeast (Neb.) Community College (SENEB) in its first two games.

Freshman Zaire Swaby of Brooklyn, N.Y. led six players in double figures with 22 points as the Bears defeated WPUJV, 117-48, in their season opener on Nov. 1 inside the DMACC gymnasium, and sophomore DeShawn Davidson of Waukegan, Ill., tallied a team-high 20 points in an 81-71 win over SENEB, Nov. 3 at Beatrice, Neb.

DMACC opened up a 56-21 halftime advantage in its win over WPUJV and never looked back. The Bears led by as many as 72 points in the second half before settling for a 69-point victory.

Sophomore Ray Miller of Davenport scored 17 points in the win, sophomore Theron Sanders of Kansas City, Kan., had 16 points and sophomore Devonta Prince of Brooklyn Center, Minn., added 15 points. Freshman Zach Lester of Clear Lake and sophomore Dyllan Robinson of Las Vegas, Nev., also reached double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively.

DMACC shot 60 percent in the game, hitting 45 of 75 field goal attempts. The Bears were 6-of-19 from three-point range and 21-of-29 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Quinton Taylor of Cedar Point, Texas, led DMACC to a 56-28 advantage on the boards with 10 rebounds. Miller collected nine and Prince, Robinson and Swaby had seven rebounds apiece. Freshman Rashon Ivory of Perry dished out a team-high 11 assists and also led the Bears in steals with five.

Davidson's 20 points, 17 from Robinson and 16 by freshman Tray Buchanan of East Moline, Ill., lifted DMACC past SENEB. The Bears trailed throughout the first half, including a 35-33 halftime deficit, but outscored the Storm 48-36 in the second half to come away with the win.

DMACC shot 43 percent for the game, hitting 30 of 70 field goal attempts. The Bears were 5-of-15 from three-point range and 16-of-26 from the free throw line.

DMACC came away with a 45-40 advantage on the boards with Davison's 13 rebounds leading the way. Buchanan had a team-high three assists and Prince led the Bears in steals with five. Prince and Miller had three blocked shots apiece.

The DMACC men's basketball team will host the Graceland University junior varsity Nov. 6 inside the DMACC gymnasium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.