MCC men split weekend tourney games at Scottsbluff

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -- The McCook Community College men's basketball team enjoyed a successful weekend at the Western Nebraska Community College Classic.

The Indians split a pair of tournament games played Nov. 18-19 at WNCC in Scottsbluff. MCC dropped an 86-82 decision to a tough College of Eastern Utah squad in action Friday, Nov. 18. The Indians came back with a 100-65 romp Saturday, Nov. 19, over Buckley (Colo.) Air Force Base.

MCC head coach Brandon Lenhart said his team should have beaten the Utah team, as the Indians led most of the game, including an 11-point cushion at one point. Eastern Utah thumped a very strong Western Nebraska C.C. team Saturday, 100-89.

McCook had four players score in double figures Friday, led by Onyema Utti with 17 points. Byron Wright and Booker Washington added 14 points each, and Carl Swallow chipped in 12 points.

Joe Abrams of MCC had a game-high 14 rebounds.

McCook hurt its chances by making just 12 of 24 free throws. Eastern Utah was 25 of 36 at the charity stripe.

The Indians got balanced scoring again in Saturday's romp past the Buckley airmen. Utti paced MCC again with 18 points. David Smith had 16 points. Swallow added 16 points and Joe Abrams 13. Utti had 12 rebounds and Smith grabbed 10 boards.

A total of 12 players put a notch in the scoring column for MCC Saturday.

Coach Lenhart has a very young squad this season. MCC has just two sophomores returning this year, and one of those veterans, Marquis Burleson, has not played yet this season due to injury. Lenhart said he has 14 new players on the 2011-12 MCC roster.

"We took some big steps forward this weekend," Lenhart said. "We've been our own worst enemy in our two losses. We have made a lot of unforced errors at crucial times. Every possession is vital in the game of college basketball. Until we figure that out, we will struggle in big games."

Thanksgiving Classic

The MCC men, 4-2, will host the annual McCook Community College Thanksgiving Classic over the holiday weekend at True Hall gym on the MCC campus.

Otero (Colo.) Junior College, the York College junior varsity and Ft. Carson (Colo.) Military Base will compete in the two-day event

McCook will face the York College JV Friday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m., followed by the MCC men and Ft. Carson Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m.

Otero will play Ft. Carson Friday at 6 p.m., and Otero and the York JV will meet Saturday at 2 p.m.