- Thomas and Desmond score 14 points apiece in the win
- Abdelkarim and McGee also score in double figures with 12 and 10 points respectively
- Bears avenge a 96-85 loss to the seventh-ranked Lakers
Freshmen Elijah Thomas of Surprise, Ariz., and Victor Desmond of Onalaska, Wis., led four players in double figures with 14 points apiece as the DMACC men's basketball team defeated Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) 74-72 February 11 at Estherville.
Freshmen Kwat Abdelkarim of Lincoln, Neb., and Cael McGee of Stoughton, Wis., also reached double figures with 12 and10 points respectively as the Bears improved to 20-6 overall and 8-4 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
ILCC came into the game ranked seventh in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The loss was only the second of the season for the Lakers in ICCAC play. They lead the league at 10-2 and DMACC is tied with Kirkwood Community College (KCC) for second place.
With the win, DMACC, ranked 17th in the most recent Division II poll from the NJCAA, avenged a 96-85 loss to the Lakers Dec. 10 inside the DMACC gymnasium.
The two teams were never separated by more than nine points the entire game. ILCC had a nine-point advantage at 16-7 seven minutes into the first half before a 7-0 run got the Bears a 30-30 tie with 3 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the half. Desmond's three-point basket with five seconds left gave DMACC a 38-37 lead at halftime.
Neither team led by more than four points in the second half and the game was tied four times, the last at 71-71 with 23 seconds to play. Thomas made a three-pointer with five seconds to play, giving DMACC a 74-71 lead and ILCC got a free throw from Amiri Crowder with three seconds left to make it a 74-72 game. Crowder missed his second free throw and the Lakers got the rebound, but Creighton Morisch missed a jump shot and Covid-19 sophomore Jean Francois of Coral Springs, Fla., grabbed the rebound to secure the win for DMACC.
The Bears shot 48 percent in the win, making 26 of 54 field goal attempts. They made 11 of 24 three-point attempts and were 11-of-16 from the free throw line.
DMACC came away with a 37-33 advantage in rebounding with Desmond's seven rebounds leading the way. Desmond and sophomore Greg Brown of Omaha, Neb., topped the Bears in assists with six apiece and Abdelkarim led the way in steals with three.
The DMACC men's basketball team will be home to Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) on Feb. 15. Game time is 7:30 p.m. inside the DMACC gymnasium. IWCC is 12-14 overall and 4-8 in the ICCAC. The Reivers defeated DMACC 86-83 in double overtime when the two teams played Jan. 17 inside the DMACC gymnasium.