Lakers Pull Away Late From Commodores

December 16, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team fell to No.9 NJCAA DII Lakeland Community College on Saturday in Kirtland, Ohio, 89-75.

Top Commodores

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS) – 31 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Willie Powell Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/Bedford HS) – 16 points, 9 steals, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

Jayden Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Buchtel CLC) – 16 points, 5 rebounds, 6-for-6 FT

Tiyorne Coleman (New York City, N.Y/Bunell HS) – 7 points, 3 rebounds

Abdulaziz Sesay (Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africe/Limount College) – 2 points, 13 rebounds, 1 block

Recap

The Commodores (3-10, 1-5) didn't appear intimidated by the undefeated Lakers (8-0, 2-0) in the first half as they strung together a couple of solid possessions with Austin Copen (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands HS) and Deonte Benejan each finding the basket from long distance.  After the first ten minutes, the Commodores clung to a 22-20 lead but the Lakers took the lead for good a few minutes later. Lakeland used a 10-0 spurt to put distance between themselves and LCCC in the final minutes of the first.  At halftime, they led LCCC 45-38.

Powell Jr. sank two free throws on the first possession to cut into the Lakers lead and the Commodores managed to keep Lakeland in check throughout much of the half, keeping the deficit in single digits and staying within striking distance.   

Notes

Deonte Benejan had his fourth game in a row of scoring 20+ points

Abdulaziz Sesay had his first double-digit rebounding game of his career with 13 rebounds

Willie Powell Jr. had a season-high 10 attempts from the free throw line and a career-high 9 steals

Next Up

LCCC will travel to Butler County Community College on Monday, December 18, 2023 for a non-conference matchup.  The Commodores were defeated by the Pioneers on November 16, 2023. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. 

The Commodores will return home to the Ewing Activities Center Gymnasium to host the Westmoreland County Community College Wolfpack at 6:30 p.m. 

Prior to the men's game against Westmoreland, there will be an alumni game for former LCCC basketball players at 4 p.m.  Registration is required to participate.  Alumni basketball players can sign up at athletics.lorainccc.edu/alumnigame