• Sophomore Trevian Carson leads DMACC past Missouri State-West Plains
• Sophomore Da'Shon Fisher scores 21 in 94-65 win over John Wood CC
• Carson and freshman Andrew Austin record double-doubles in the wins

The DMACC men's basketball team opened the 2024-25 season in the Southeastern Classic November 1 and 2 at West Burlington and came away with a pair of wins.

Sophomore Trevian Carson of Des Moines recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Bears began the season with an 86-78 win over Missouri State-West Plains (MSWP) Nov. 1 and sophomore Da'Shon Fisher of Iowa City had 21 points in DMACC's 94-65 win over John Wood Community College (JWCC) on Nov. 2. Freshman Andrew Austin of Rock Rapids got his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds in the JWCC win.

DMACC, ranked third in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II preseason poll, and MSWP were never separated by more than seven points through the middle of the second half. The two teams were tied at the half, 38-38, and Bears never trailed after Carson's jumper gave them a 43-42 lead with 18 minutes, 17 seconds left in the half.

But they couldn't shake the Grizzlies until the final three minutes. DMACC had a 76-73 lead when Carson's layup with 2 minutes, 36 seconds left ignited a 10-2 run that gave the Bears an 86-75 with 24 seconds left, icing the victory.

Carson was one of five DMACC players to score in double figures in the game. Sophomore Jamal Ambrose of Apple Valley, Minn., had 18 points, Austin scored 13 and freshman Dylan Omweno of Apple Valley, Minn., and sophomore Da'Shon Fisher of Iowa City finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.

DMACC shot 42 percent, hitting 28 of 66 field goal attempts. The Bears were 9-of-25 from three-point range and made 21 of 29 free throw attempts.

Carson's 14 rebounds led the Bears to a 50-38 advantage on the boards. Austin came away with eight rebounds and Ambrose added five. Sophomore Demerius Shakur of Milwaukee, Wis., led DMACC in assists with seven.

Shakur's layup a minute and a half into the JWCC game broke a 5-5 tie and gave DMACC a lead it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the win. The Bears opened up an 11-point advantage at 18-7 with the game less than six minutes old and pushed their lead to as many as 18 points before they settled for a 47-26 lead at the half.

DMACC led by as many as 35 points in the second half and its lead was never less than 19 points.

Fisher was perfect from the field in scoring his 21 points. He made all nine of his field goal attempts and was 3-of-5 from the free throw line. Carson, Austin, Ambrose and freshman Rylan Smith of Lincoln, Neb., joined Fisher in double figures with 10 points apiece and Omweno added nine points.

DMACC shot 49 percent, making 35 of 72 field goal attempts. The Bears were 7-of-29 from three-point range and 17-of-31 at the free throw line.

Austin's 12 rebounds led DMACC to a 41-40 advantage on the boards. Carson dished out five assists and he and Omweno led the Bears in steals with three apiece.

The DMACC men's basketball team will host the DMACC Invitational Nov. 8 and 9 inside the DMACC gymnasium. The Bears will play Bryant and Stratton (Wis.) College (BSC) on Nov. 8 and will face the William Penn University Junior Varsity on Nov. 9.