Fast Start For Pioneers Prevails Despite Commodore Comebacks

November 16, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team lost at home to the Butler County Community College Thursday night, 94-89.

Top Commodores

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS)– 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Austin Copen (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands HS)– 12 points, 3-8 3PT

Jayden Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Buchtel CLC) – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

Tiyorne Coleman (New York City, N.Y./Bunnell HS) – 13 points, 7 rebounds

Patrick Russell (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS)– 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Recap

The Commodores never had the lead in the first half as Butler jumped out to a 7 point lead in the first 78 seconds of the game before Tiyorne Coleman got the scoring going for LCCC with a basket and foul.  LCCC eventually tied the game at 9 after a Deonte Benejan bucket just passed the 17-minute mark.  That would become a theme for the Commodores the rest of the contest: LCCC would chip away, Butler would respond and hold the lead.

Butler used a 10-0 run to take control of the half and keep the charging Commodore's at bay.  Willie Powell, Jr. hit a three pointer in transition to cut the Pioneer lead down to three points with a minute remaining in the first half, 44-41.

As much as LCCC tried to cut the lead down in the second half, Butler was able to keep the lead with timely baskets and the hot shooting of guard Rocco Spadafora who scored 33 points going 8-13 from long range, five of which came in the second half.

Despite the production from Spadafora and the Pioneers building their largest lead of the game at 13 with eight minutes remaining, the Commodores would fight back. With a little over four minutes remaining the game, Patrick Russell drained a long range bucket to get the Commodores within five.

Trailing by 11 with just under two minutes to play, Copen hit his second three pointer of the second half after shaking a cold start to the game.  Powell, Jr. hit two free throws to make it a two possession game with just under a minute to play. Butler turned the ball over on their next possession and the Commodores answered with Russell in the paint to bring LCCC within four points.

After LCCC forced Butler into a timeout with 22 second remaining, the Pioneers scored a basket to increase their lead back to six and held on for the win.

Notes

• Deonte Benejan put up another 20-point performance for the Commodores, going 6-16 from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line.
• The Commodores had five players score in double figures
• Patrick Russell earned his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
• Tiyorne Coleman made his first start of the season, going 4-5 from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line for 13 points.

Next Up

The Commodores will travel to Youngwood, Pa. to face Westmoreland County Community College on Tuesday November 21 at 6 p.m.