• Kwat Abdelkarim leads Bears past Iowa Western, 74-64
• Cael McGee scores 15 points in 77-62 loss to Kirkwood CC
• KCC erases 17-point lead in defeating DMACC for the third time this season

The DMACC men's basketball team saw its season come to a close following a 77-62 loss to Kirkwood Community College (KCC) in the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI Division II Men's Basketball Championship March 5 at Estherville.

DMACC, seeded third, advanced to the semifinals with a 74-64 win over sixth-seeded Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) on March 4.

Freshman Kwat Abdelkarim of Lincoln, Neb., scored 16 points, freshmen Cael McGee of Stoughton, Wis., and Jaron Crews of Ankeny had 15 points apiece and freshman Victor Desmond of Onalaska, Wis., finished with 13 to lead the Bears past IWCC.

DMACC led throughout the game, including 35-29 at halftime behind an 11-5 run in the final four minutes of the half. The Bears opened the second half with a 14-5 run for a 49-34 advantage with just more than 13 minutes to play. DMACC led by as many as 19 points in the second half.

The Bears shot 42 percent, hitting 23 of 55 field goal attempts. They were 6-of-21 from three-point range and 22-of-32 at the free throw line.

Sophomore Greg Brown of Omaha, Neb., pulled down eight rebounds and Covid-19 sophomore (CoSO) Jimarius Sneed of Chicago, Ill., had seven as DMACC came away with a 42-40 advantage on the boards. McGee and Sneed led the Bears in assists with two apiece and Brown led DMACC in steals with four.

McGee scored a team-high 15 points in the Bears' third loss of the season to second-seeded KCC. The game was tied 9-9 before a 15-3 run put DMACC ahead 24-12. DMACC continued to dominate the half, leading 44-27 at halftime, but the Bears' domination ended there as KCC outscored them 25-8 to gain a 52-52 tie with 9 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the game. Another run, this one 19-6, gave the Eagles a 71-58 lead with less than four minute to play and they would lead by as many as 17 points in the closing minutes.

DMACC shot 36 percent, making 21 of 59 field goal attempts. The Bears were 3-of-16 from three-point range and 17-of-25 from the free throw line.

KCC had a 49-43 advantage in rebounding with CoSO Jean Francois of Coral Springs, Fla., leading DMACC with five rebounds. Brown dished out four assists and Sneed led the Bears in steals with two.