Eagles Edge Commodores In First Game of 2024

January 6, 2024 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team had three players show out against the Clark State Community College Eagles Saturday afternoon but it wasn't enough as the Commodores fell 111-106.

Top Commodores

Jayden Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Buchtel CLC) – 41 points, (17-25 FG), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS) – 32 points (13-23 FG), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Tavion Pride (Cleveland, Ohio/Huron HS) -  24 points (9-18 FG), 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals

Recap

The Commodores (4-12, 1-6), shorthanded and playing their first game since December 20, came out strong against the Eagles (5-6, 3-1).  LCCC built a 13-4 lead in the first five minutes and forced a timeout from Clark.  They maintained that lead until the Eagles came back to tie the game at 31 with just over six minutes left in the first half.  Clark took control from there and accumulated an 18-point lead into the locker room, 61-43.

The second period saw the Commodores cut the lead in half almost instantly, hitting their first three 3-point attempts from the field. However, the Eagles responded by increasing their lead to 19 points over the next few minutes, 76-54, with 14:30 left in the game. Over the next seven minutes, the Commodores chipped away and got to within five points after a Jayden Maxwell jumper with 6:45 remaining. That would be as close as the Commodores would get as Clark State prevailed 111-106.

Notes

• Tavion Pride made his collegiate debut Saturday and scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting. 
• Jayden Maxwell put up a career-high 41 points (26 second half points)
• Deonte Benejan put up his fourth 30-point game of his LCCC career and has scored 20+ points in all but one game this season for the Commodores.
• LCCC shot 57% from the field and put up 100 points for the third time this season (1-2).
• The Commodore connected on seven 3-point baskets against Clark, the ninth time this season hitting seven or more from downtown.
• The Commodores defeated Clark State in their first meeting on December 9, 2023, 104-95

Next Up

LCCC hosts NJCAA DII No. 9 Lakeland Community College on Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside the Ewing Activities Center Gymnasium.  The Commodores fell to Lakers 89-75 on December 16, 2023.