- Six DMACC players score in double figures
- Bears take a 62-24 lead into halftime
- DMACC shoots 60 percent in the win
Freshman Andrew Austin of Rock Rapids led six players in double figures with 25 points as the DMACC men's basketball team took a 122-68 decision from Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) January 11 inside the DMACC gymnasium.
Sophomore Da'Shon Fisher of Iowa City scored 23 points, freshman Jaden Jefferson of Forney, Texas, added 19 points and freshman Rylan Smith of Lincoln, Neb., sophomore Trevian Carson of Des Moines and freshman Nathan Ruisch of Johnston added 16, 14 and 11 points respectively as the Bears improved to 16-2 for the season with their second win over DCTC. DMACC defeated the Blue Knights 105-74 when the two teams played Nov. 25 at Inver Hills, Minn.
DMACC, ranked seventh in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), never trailed in game. The Bears pulled away from a 10-7 lead with a 20-7 run that gave them a 30-14 lead midway through the opening half. They led by as many as 40 points before settling for a 62-24 lead at halftime and shot 68 percent in the half with 26 field goals from 38 attempts. The rout continued in the second half with the Bears leading by as many as 59 points.
DMACC cooled off a bit in the second half and shot 60 percent from the field, hitting 47 of 79 field goal attempts. The Bears were 14-of-30 from three-point range and 14-of-17 from the free throw line.
Austin and Jefferson grabbed seven rebounds apiece and freshman Jalen Haynes of Milwaukee, Wis., added six as DMACC came away with a 48-34 advantage on the boards. Sophomore Demerius Shakur of Milwaukee, Wis., dished out seven assists and Austin and Carson had five apiece. Fisher, Jefferson and Carson had two steals apiece and Jefferson added three blocked shots.
The DMACC men's basketball team will face Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) matchup Jan. 15 at Council Bluffs. DMACC is 6-1 in the ICCAC and shares the conference lead with Kirkwood Community College (KCC). IWCC is 12-6 overall and 5-3 in league play.
