Commodores Overcome 18-Point Second-Half Deficit to Defeat Clark State, 95-77

Trailing 50-32 with 16:35 left in the game, the Lorain County Community College men's basketball team erased the 18-point Clark State lead in the next eight minutes and outscored the Eagles, 65-41, in the second half to seal its fifth straight win, 95-77, on Wednesday night, January 24 at LCCC.  The Commodores outscored Clark State, 47-12, over 12-1/2 minutes to complete a 35-point swing and take a 79-62 lead with 3:55 to play.

Freshman guard Montez Day stoked the LCCC second-half comeback scoring six straight points and eight points in an 11-0 run to come within seven at 50-43 after the Clark State lead reach 18.  

The Commodores trailed at halftime, 36-30, as the determined Eagles shot 44% in the first 20 minutes and 46.8% for the game.  LCCC hit only 29% in the first half but turned in a 23-for-41 performance after the break (56%), including 7-of-15 (46.7%) from long range.

"We did not start aggressively at either end of the court," Head Coach Marty Eggleston said. "Clark State is a very capable team and we had to play much more aggressively and actively in the second half," Eggleston stated.

The Commodores' had eight players score eight or more points.  The leading scorer was sophomore forward Zach Swain who scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds in just 12 minutes off the bench to lead five players in double figures.  Day converted 6-of 10 shots on the way to 14 points, two boards, an assist and a steal.  Sophomore forward Miles Meredith accounted for 12 points and seven boards in 20 minutes.  Freshman guard Luis Santiago pitched in with 10 second-half points, two boards, an assist and a steal in 14 minutes of action.  Freshman center Jovon Jones added 10 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes.  Freshman guard Justis Craig scored nine points in 11 minutes; sophomore forward Daniel Lott also had nine points and sophomore guard Mike Rell scored eight points. 

Sophomore guard Isaiah Williams scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures for Clark State.

The Commodores -- ranked #11 in this week's NJCAA D-III poll -- improve to 17-2 overall, 7-1 in the OCCAC.  Clark State is now 6-9 overall and 2-5 in the OCCAC.

LCCC will host Lakeland CC in another conference game on Wednesday, January 31, at 7:30 p.m.