North Central Missouri College battled fiercely against St. Louis Community College in a tightly contested matchup, ultimately falling just short in an 81-80 thriller which ended their bid for an undefeated season. The Pirates showcased strong offensive efficiency, shooting 51% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 60.6% of their attempts.
Tyler King was the standout performer for North Central Missouri, delivering a dominant 32-point performance on an impressive 12-of-16 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also contributed six rebounds and two assists, keeping the Pirates within striking distance throughout the game. Giovanni Mack played a key role as well, stuffing the stat sheet with 15 points, eight assists, six steals, and four rebounds, showing his two-way impact.
Jon Carroll and Camden Bennett each chipped in nine points, with Carroll finding his way to the free-throw line frequently but struggling to capitalize, making just 5-of-10. Bennett had a tough shooting night, going 2-for-11 from the field, but his steady free-throw shooting (5-of-6) helped keep the Pirates afloat. Joe Clark provided solid minutes, contributing six points and five rebounds, while Mikey Thomas gave a strong lift off the bench with seven points and an efficient 2-of-3 shooting.
Despite their strong performance, North Central Missouri College couldn't overcome St. Louis Community College's efficient offense. Zac Goss led the way for St. Louis with 22 points, hitting five three-pointers, while Darric Smith dominated inside with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Archers shot nearly 58% from the field and were deadly at the free-throw line, converting 83.3% of their attempts—an area where the Pirates struggled.
North Central Missouri College moved the ball well with 17 assists and won the rebounding battle 25-18, but turnovers proved costly. St. Louis Community College capitalized on mistakes and found just enough offense to edge out the Pirates in the final moments. Despite the loss, North Central Missouri put up a valiant fight, and King's performance was a bright spot in an otherwise heartbreaking defeat.