Late Surge By Commodores Comes Up Short

December 21, 2024 - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team fell to Butler County Community College despite a valiant comeback effort in the second half, losing 95-87.

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS) led all scorers with 28 points off the bench. He tallied 17 points in the second half, spearheading the Commodores' attempt to erase a 20-point halftime deficit against the Pioneers (2-6). Benejan also facilitated the offense effectively, contributing six assists.

Dejahn Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Rhodes College) recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Smith's prowess on the offensive boards helped LCCC stay competitive, as the team scored 28 second-chance points compared to Butler's eight.

LCCC (1-13) had two other players reach double figures. Dennis Pettis Jr. (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) scored 15 points while filling up the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Kayden Thomas (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) added 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Anthony Atkins (Cleveland, Ohio/Valley Forge HS) also made a notable impact, securing six rebounds and four assists in limited minutes.

Next Up:

The Commodores will travel to Kent State-Tuscarawas on Friday, December 27, for their final game of 2024 before heading to Butler to open 2025 with a rematch against the Pioneers on January 5.