Spartans nearly upset rated DMACC
BOONE — If the game had been 30 seconds shorter, Southwestern men would have posted an upset victory over nationally-ranked DMACC Saturday.
“We had the game in hand,” said Southwestern coach Mike Holmes. “We controlled it, on the road, against an athletic group. We were possessing the ball, working for good shots and defending pretty well. The tempo was how we wanted it to be.”
The patient Spartan style was frustrating the Bears, who fell to an 18th ranking this week after being No. 10 last week. Southwestern led 26-17 at halftime, and had a five-point lead with two minutes to play.
“Then we got a little over-eager and turned it over trying to make a play,” Holmes said. “We were still up three with 30 seconds to play. We had a great defensive possession. They had to take a tough three with five seconds left.”
But, rather than grab the defensive rebound and lock up the win, the Spartans allowed DMACC new life with a fateful offensive rebound.
“We didn’t block out well, they got the rebound, and they not only got the put-back, but we fouled the tip-in guy and put him on the line,” Holmes said.
The free throw by Derek Williams was good after the basket, sending the game into overtime at 49-49.
Southwestern lacked its former patience on offense, putting up two errant threes, and the Bears were off and running to a 62-51 overtime win. DMACC owned a 13-2 advantage over the extra five minutes.
Southwestern fell to 2-1 in league play and 7-8 overall, missing a giant opportunity for a key conference road triumph. DMACC improved to 2-1 and 13-4.
“It wasn’t one of those cases where we hung close and had a shot at the end,” Holmes said, “we had the game in hand, but didn’t think well enough to win it.”
Marquealis Edwards finished with 12 points and eight rebounds to lead Southwestern Jared Theis contributed eight points. Williams, a freshman from Milwaukee, paced the Bears with 20 points and five steals.
On Wednesday the Spartans host Ellsworth, 1-0 and 9-6, after the 5:30 p.m. women’s game.
DMACC (62) — Derek Williams 20, Brandon Nazione 18, Michael Aldeman 11, LaTree Russell 6, DeVonte Smith 4, TJ Davis 3. Totals — 18 20-26 62. FG shooting — 18-54 (33.3 percent). 3-point goals — 6-22 (Aldeman 3, Williams 3). Rebounds — 36 (Russell 7, Nazione 6). Assists — 13 (Davis 4, Williams 4). Steals — 14 (Williams 5). Blocked shots — 2 (Asencio 2). Turnovers — 17. Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.
SOUTHWESTERN (51) — Marquealis Edwards 12, Jared Theis 8, Patrick Wright 6, Delby Halcomb 6, Devin Kastrup 5, Jack Harrison 5, Larry Mason 5, Marcus Littleton 4. Totals — 20 6-11 51. FG shooting — 20-43 (46.5 percent). 3-point goals — 5-17 (Edwards 2, Theis 2, Mason 1). Rebounds — 30 (Edwards 8, Kastrup 6, Halcomb 5, Wright 4). Assists — 14 (Wright 3, Halcomb 3). Steals — 8 (Wright 3, Mason 2). Blocked shots — 8 (Kastrup 3, Harrison 3). Turnovers — 24. Team fouls — 20. Fouled out — Wright.
DMACC — 17 49 62
SWCC — 26 49 51
