• Sophomore Elijah Thomas leads DMACC in both games
• Bears show balanced scoring in the wins
• DMACC faces William Penn University Junior Varsity in home opener

The DMACC men's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with victories against Malcolm X College (MXC) and Carl Sandburg College (CSC) in the Southeastern Classic November 3 and 4 at West Burlington.

Sophomore Elijah Thomas of Surprise, Ariz., led six players in double figures with 25 points in a 106-75 win over MXC and led five players in double figures with 18 points in a 117-74 win over CSC.

Sophomore Angelo Winkel of Algona had 16 points, sophomores James Glenn of Altoona and Victor Desmond of Onalaska, Wis., scored 14 points apiece and sophomore Trey Lewis of Johnston and freshman Trevian Carson of Des Moines finished with 12 and 10 points respectively in the Bears' win over MXC. DMACC led 47-40 at halftime and outscored MXC 59-35 in the second half to come away with the win.

The Bears shot 47percent, hitting 37 of 79 field goal attempts. They were 10-of-27 from three-point range and 22-of-25 from the free throw line.

Lewis recorded a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 10 assists as DMACC came away with 45 rebounds. Winkel had seven rebounds and Desmond finished with six. Freshman Da'Shon Fisher of Iowa City led the Bears in steals with four and sophomore Ethan Thomas of Greenfield, Wis., recorded two blocked shots.

DMACC built a 54-37 halftime cushion and coasted past CSC. Lewis, Winkel, Desmond and freshman Demerius Shakur of Milwaukee, Wis., joined Elijah Thomas in double figures with 20, 17, 11 and 10 points respectively.

DMACC shot 54 percent, hitting 44 of 82 field goal attempts. The Bears were 18-of-40 from three-point range and 11-of-15 from the free throw line. Elijah Thomas was 8-of-14 from the field and made seven of his 10 three-point attempts.

Lewis, Winkel, Ethan Thomas and freshman Omar Eichazli of Katy, Texas, had four rebounds apiece as DMACC came away with a 31-27 advantage on the boards. Lewis again reached double figures in assists with 11 and Elijah Thomas and Desmond had four steals apiece.

The DMACC men's basketball team will open the home season Nov. 7 against the William Penn University Junior Varsity. Game time is 7 p.m. inside the DMACC gymnasium.