WNCC assistant coach Gianno Biaconi said they never gave up in a hostile environment.
“I am very proud of the guys. They never gave up,” Biaconi said. “I was very happy because they fought and actually came back twice in the game. We were down 16-5 early and came back. Then at the end of the game, with five minutes to play, we were down by 12 and came back.”
With a little over six minutes to play, the Cougars trailed 66-54 and it looked like the Plainsmen would waltz to a victory. The Cougars had other ideas as they fought back to take their first lead of the second half, 69-68, on two Francisco Cruz 3-pointers from the top of the key.
NJC fought back to take a 72-69 lead on two DeShawn Battle free throws with 25.6 seconds to play. WNCC kept their composure and with 8.7 seconds to play, Cruz found a wide open Joe Stock in the corner who drained the trey to tie the score at 72 to force overtime.
In the overtime period, Cruz connected on two field goals to five WNCC a 76-75 lead. After NJC’s Widget Washington put the Plainsmen up 77-76. WNCC then led 80-77 as Geddes Robinson scored off an assist from Stock, and then Stock scored from an assist from Cruz for an 80-77 lead.
NJC’s Battle tied the game after draining a long-range 3-pointer with 1:21 to play. Ritchie Mundende put WNCC up on an offensive rebound with 46 ticks left. Cruz drained one of two free throws with 17.7 seconds to play. But Washington drained a long 2-pointer with 8.5 seconds and then WNCC was whistled for a controversial turnover on the sideline. Washington then nailed a bucket and was fouled with two seconds to play for the game.
Bianconi said that the game-tying trey at the end of regulation was ran to perfection.
“That play was great. They did exactly what I told them to do,” he said. “I told them to run the play and get three passes and get Joe and Mateus in the corners because they were too worried about Pako [Cruz] taking the shot. Joe took the shot and wasn’t distracted.”
The Cougars actually dominated the contest in several categories. WNCC out-rebounded NJC 55-36 as Brylle Kamen had 11 boards and Mundende had eight rebounds. The Cougars also outshot the Plainsmen 48 perfect to 38 percent. The Cougars shot 53 percent in the second half.
Cruz was the big offensive weapon in the second half, finishing with 28 points and three 3-pointers. All of Cruz’ points came in the second half as he was saddled with foul trouble early in the game.
But, in Cruz’ absence in the first half, plenty of other Cougars stepped up. Mateus Chaves and Joe Stock came up big with some clutch threes in the first half. WNCC trailed early in the game, 26-16 with five minutes left. Kamen started the comeback with three points and then Stock drained a trey and Chavez hit three 3-pointers to cut the halftime deficit to 34-31.
The game also featured 58 fouls between the two teams, and a combined six technicals – three on each team. The difference was free throw shooting as WNCC was just 21 of 39 while NJC was just 21 of 32.
WNCC had four players in double figures led by Cruz’s 28 points. Chaves finished with 14 followed by Stock with 11 and Robinson with 10.
WNCC, 12-9, will look to get back on the winning track when they host Otero Junior College on Saturday.
WNCC 31 41 11 -- 83
NJC 35 38 13 -- 85
NORTHEASTERN COLORADO
Dre Calloway 8, DeShawn Battle 22, Will Bell 6, Jerrell Washington 16, Trevor Brady 6, Nate Wilson 8, Griffin Brady 2, Anthony Crenshaw 4.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
O’Rion Hughes 5, Joe Stock 11, Mateus Chaves 14, Francisco Cruz 28, Brylle Kamen 6, Ritchie Mundende 9, Geddes Robinson 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment