Tri-C Men's Basketball Season Ends at Great Lakes Regional Tournament Semi Final
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cuyahoga Community College (24-7) | 37 | 43 | 80 |
|
Kalamazoo Valley Community College (23-6) | 46 | 45 | 91 |
Flint. MI – The Cuyahoga Community College men's basketball team competed hard during the second half of the quarter-finals of the regional tournament but came up short dropping a 91-80 contest to the Kalamazoo Community College Cougars Friday 10 March 2023 at Mott Community College.
The fourth-seeded Tops completed their return season with a 24-7 record. The Tops finished third in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) and proved they will be a force in the coming seasons.
Devin Haid led the Tops in scoring with 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds while shooting 50% from the field and from deep. Manny Hill added 19 points before fouling out with 1:40 remaining in the contest. Tyishawn Smiley was the only other Top in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Trailing by 16 points early in the second half, the Tops stomped back to get within six points around the seven-minute mark but could get no closer.
The Cougars forced 25 turnovers and went to the line 31 times compared to 13 for the Tops and knocked down 23 attempts (74%). Both teams shot 30 of 65 from the field (46.2%) and the Tops connected on one more trey attempt. The difference was at the line and in the turnover column. The Cougars took advantage of the mistakes and remained aggressive throughout the contest.
Coach Nixon deserves credit for guiding the ship on the team's return to action after the two-year hiatus. The team played hard each game and earned each victory enroute to a spot in the regional tournament. The Tops have something to build upon and the fans have something to look forward to. The team will have an entire off-season to prepare, which was not afforded this season.
Congratulations to the staff and players for an excellent return to action. After being picked to finish in the middle of the pack, the team looked dominant in conference play and will be poised to take another leap next season with the aim of competing for a national championship!