Spartans win league opener in overtime

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CLINTON — The Southwestern Community College men’s basketball team picked up an 84-75 overtime victory over Clinton Community College Sunday in their conference opener. The Spartans held a 37-35 halftime lead, and then opened the second half with a 16-2 run to take a 51-39 lead after six minutes. The Cougars fought back and managed to tie the game on a Clay Weber field goal with :0.6 left on the clock to send the game into overtime. CCC edged out in front 74-71 early in the extra period, but foul trouble forced the Cougars to finish the game with four players. The Cougars had only eight players to start the game. Southwestern had a 13-1 scoring advantage down the stretch. “We got a little lackadaisical turning the ball over and they closed with a 13-7 run at the end of the first half after we got up 30-22,” said Southwestern coach Jerry Drymon. “We built a 51-39 lead, and then we kind of relaxed and started missing free throws. Before we knew it, the score was tied 71-71. We were executing at a higher level in overtime after they jumped on us early.” Southwestern was also shorthanded, with Terrance Morgan and Will Wilson sitting out suspensions for missing holiday practices, and Chris Santiago held out with a toe injury. Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by Laurice Ellison with 20 points and Ryckey Harper with 19. Southwestern, 8-2 overall, hosts Marshalltown in a women’s-men’s doubleheader Wednesday. Clinton fell to 4-10 overall and 0-3 in the conference. CLINTON CC (75) — Eric May 10, Devlin Anderson 3, Jon Porter 11, Cody Johnson 4, Rico McLemore 8, Elijah Wilson 18, Cole Block 12, Clay Weber 9. Totals — 30 7-12 75 3-point goals — Block 4, Weber 1, McLemore 1, Anderson 1, May 1. Rebounds — 36. Turnovers — 18. Team fouls — 29. Fouled out — May, Anderson, Porter, McLemore. SOUTHWESTERN (84) — Laurice Ellison 20, Ryckey Harper 19, Royce Phillips 17, Tyler Raasch 13, Kristian Williams 7, Jamahl Depriest 4, Anthony Davis 4. 3-point goals — 3 (Raasch 3). Rebounds — 52 (Ellison 13, Phillips 12, Williams 11). Assists — 23 (Ellison 6, Harper 6). Steals — 9 (Ellison 3). Turnovers — 25. Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — Williams. Clinton — 35 71 75 SWCC — 37 71 84S