Commodores Come Up Short Against Edison Chargers

December 2, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team had Edison State (4-4, 1-1) on the ropes in the second half looking to get their first Ohio Community College Athletic Conference win but the Chargers came back from 12 down in the second to defeat the Commodores, 75-74.

Top Commodores

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS) – 17 points, 7-8 FT, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 assist

Patrick Russell (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS) – 16 points, 4-6FG, 2-2 3PT, 3 assists, 2, rebounds, 1 steal.

Jayden Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Buchtel CLC) – 7 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals,

Willie Powell Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/Bedford HS) – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

Abdulaziz Sesay (Freetown Sierra Leon, West Africa/Limount College) – Team-high and career-high nine rebounds

Austin Copen (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands HS) – 11 points, 3-7 3PT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Recap

The lead changed 9 times in the first half between the Commodores (2-7, 0-2) and the Chargers.  The Chargers dominated the glass with 14 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Commodores 31-17 in the first 20 minutes. LCCC had a four point lead in the final two minutes only to see the Chargers go on a 9-4 run and take a 32-31 lead into the locker room. 

LCCC had the lead with 27 seconds remaining in the game thanks to Patrick Russell's tip in to put the Commodores ahead 74-73.  Edison went down the court and drew a Commodore foul to go to the line where they split the pair of free throws to tie the game.  LCCC turned the ball over on the proceeding inbounds pass and fouled Edison where they again split a pair of free throws to take the lead with 2.2 seconds left.  A desperation toss by Denote Benejan at the end of the game didn't fall and LCCC lost 75-74.

Notes

• Four Commodores scored in double-figures
• LCCC shot 41% from the field
• Abdulaziz Sesay had a career-high nine rebounds
• The Commodores lost the rebounding battle 48-38
• After allowing 14 offensive rebounds in the first half, LCCC only allowed 3 in the second.
• LCCC shot a season-high 43% from 3 point land on 7-16 shooting
• Edison State capitalized on Commodore turnovers with 23 points to LCCC's 8
• The lead changed 12 times during the contest.  Edison's largest lead was four, LCCC's was 12.

Next Up

LCCC will host the Cuyahoga Community College Triceratops on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at 6:30 pm.