Commodores Lose Steam Late; DuPage Defeats LCCC in Great Lakes District Final, 84-70

March 4, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team fell to the College of DuPage Chaparrals in the NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship in Glen Ellyn, Ill., 84-70.

"What a ride this season," said Head Coach Marty Eggleston. "Win, lose, or draw, I love this group of guys. I am very proud of their historic journey."

A common case of tough, gritty performances from players that simply ran out of steam as DuPage went on a 21-8 run in the final six minutes to finish off the Commodores (12-18) season. 

LCCC punched their ticket to the district final after disposing of Owens Community College on February 22, 2023, 79-66, in front of a sellout crowd inside the Ewing Activities Center.

"What they have accomplished this season was more than a difficult task," said Eggleston. "The life of a student-athlete is unique and you have to be special to manage that life.  These young men have proven themselves to be great examples of character and great representatives of LCCC and the sport of basketball."

As had been the case for much of the season, LCCC put together a strong first half thanks to the play of Quante May (Cleveland, Ohio/Horizon Science Academy) who scored 20 points in the opening 20 minutes. He finished with 22 points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.  LCCC looked like they were going to head into the half up one point until Drew Gaston connected on a half court heave at the buzzer to get DuPage ahead at the break, 40-38. 

Bennett Sulen (Avon, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) would score the first basket of the second half for the Commodores to tie the game, and Luqman Lateef (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw HS) would bury a 3-point shot a few minutes later to give the Commodores the lead, 46-44, but DuPage would take a 52-50 lead with just under 12 minutes to play and hold it the rest of the way.

Jayden Roberts (Wellington, Ohio/Wellington HS) finished with six points and was a monster on the boards, pulling down 14 rebounds.  Lem Payne (Philadelphia, Pa./Mount Pleasant HS) finished off his career with the Commodores scoring 11 points, with three assists and two steals.  Brandon Fisher (Strongsville, Ohio/Columbia HS) connected on two 3-point shots and had two steals.

Casey Kelley (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands HS) scored six with nine rebounds and Lateef had eight points, while Sulen scored seven with five rebounds and three assists.