NCMC men's basketball pulled off a commanding win over Highland Community College – Kansas on Tuesday, finishing with a final score of 98-68. NCMC's offense was efficient, shooting an impressive 60.9% from the field, and their balanced team effort helped secure a decisive victory.
Leading the scoring for 5th ranked NCMC was Tyler King, who poured in 29 points on an outstanding 12-of-16 shooting, including three three-pointers. King showcased his scoring ability from both inside and outside, adding three rebounds and two steals in his 30 minutes on the floor. Not far behind, Camden Bennett contributed 22 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, including four three-pointers, while also going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Bennett added five rebounds and two assists, providing a steady all-around presence.
Jon Carroll added a crucial presence in the paint, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, just missing a double-double. Carroll was highly efficient, shooting 10-of-14 from the field. His hustle on the boards helped the team dominate the rebounding battle, particularly on the defensive end.
Giovanni Mack played a pivotal role as the team's primary playmaker, dishing out a game-high 10 assists and scoring 7 points. His vision and ball distribution kept the offense flowing smoothly and set up numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates. Mack also contributed defensively, collecting four steals to add to NCMC's strong defensive showing.
Off the bench, Garrett Fettinger was a key contributor with 5 points and 7 rebounds in just 15 minutes, adding depth to the team's rebounding efforts. Deng Gak chipped in with 4 points, three rebounds, and one block in limited minutes, helping NCMC maintain their defensive intensity.
For Highland, Rashad Kee was the standout player, scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. However, Kee's efforts weren't enough to overcome NCMC's balanced attack and efficient scoring.
With the win, the Pirates are now 2-0 with their next action coming on Friday when they tangle with Iowa Central CC in the KCKCC HOF Classic in Kansas City. Tipoff for that game is set for 4:00pm and will be played at Metropolitan CC-Penn Valley campus. Saturday NCMC will play host KCKCC at the same location and time.