LCCC Comes Up Short Against Owens Express, 75-71

February 16, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team suffered a tough road loss to the Owens Community College Express on Wednesday evening, 75-71.  LCCC defeated Owens at home in a game that they never trailed on February 1, 85-60.  Next Wednesday, the Express will return to LCCC's campus where they and the Commodores will square off in the NJCAA Region XII DIII Championship.

Never getting going from the opening tip, the Commodores came out flat and couldn't get into a rhythm from beyond the arc, going 3-for-17 for the game and not hitting their first three ball until midway through the second half.

LCCC trailed by 12 at with ninety seconds left in the first when they went on the attack.  Fueled by Jayden Roberts' (Wellington, Ohio, Wellington HS) scoring and Anthony Mcghaw (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville HS), LCCC went on a 9-2 run to close out the half. 

After Roberts scored in the paint, Mcghaw got a steal and scored to the cut the lead to eight.  He scored again after forcing a turnover, and then fed Roberts who got fouled for an old-fashioned three pointer.  Roberts scored 13 in the first half and would finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Mcghaw finished four points, two rebounds, and a steal. 

The second half was a frustrating one for the Commodores.  With 15 minutes left in the game, Quante May (Cleveland, Ohio/Horizon Science Academy) tied it at 43 on a free throw and then scored a few seconds later on a steal to take the lead, 45-43.  May finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block. 

The lead wouldn't last and for the rest of the game if the Commodores took the lead or tied it up, Owens would use a short run to regain or build its lead back up.  Bennett Sulen (Avon, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) hit LCCC's first three pointer in the second half to give them a brief 54-53 lead, but Owens responded with a three pointer of their own to quell the comeback. Luqman Lateef (Cleveland, Ohio/ Shaw HS) tied the game with a three pointer with eight and half minutes to play but the Express would score twice to keep LCCC at bay on their next two chances.

Sulen stole an Owens pass and scored on a coast-to-coast basket with just over a minute to play to get the Commodores within one, 71-70 but it would be as close as they would get.

LCCC concludes the regular season with their last Ohio Community College Athletic Conference game this Saturday against the Clark State Community College Eagles in Springfield, Ohio. Tip is at 1 p.m.