HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jameel McKay and D.J. Bennett each had 16 points Wednesday to lead the No. 7 Indian Hills Community College (Iowa) men’s basketball team to a 79-70 victory against No. 15 East Mississippi C.C. in the NJCAA Division I National Championship at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The loss ends the season for EMCC at 24-5. EMCC lost to No. 1 South Plains College (Texas) 71-63 in the first game of the double-elimination tournament Tuesday.
McKay had 14 rebounds and Bennett added nine to help Indian Hills C.C. rally from a 33-29 halftime deficit. Gary Ricks added 15 points, and Roderick Bobbitt had 10 points, six assists, and five steals.
Indian Hills C.C. had a 55-48 edge in rebounding.
EMCC led at halftime despite shooting 5 of 17 (29 percent) from the field. The Lions were 11 of 18 from the free-throw line (61 percent) in the first half, and 26 of 38 (68 percent) for the game.
Colin Borchert led EMCC with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tradarrius McPhearson had 16 points and six rebounds, and Curtis Hall added 12 points and five rebounds. Former West Oktibbeha County High School standout Deon Bedford had four points, four rebounds, and four steals, while former West Point High standout Lakin Ford didn’t score and had three rebounds in 10 minutes.
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