McCook C.C. men split weekend road games

The McCook Community College men's basketball team split a pair of road games last weekend.

The Indians opened the trip with a huge 94-92 win at Northeast Community College in Norfolk Saturday, Jan. 14. MCC then dropped a 102-79 decision at Central C.C. in Columbus Sunday, Jan. 15.g

The McCook men rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to top Northeast Saturday. MCC outscored the hosts 52-39 in the second half.

Free throws were a big key to the McCook win. MCC hit 24 of 28 charity shots (85.7 percent), while Northeast was 17 of 28 at the line (60.7 percent). MCC also out-rebounded Northeast 42-36.

Onyema Utti led McCook with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Joe Abrams had 16 points and 10 assists for MCC. David Smith added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Dominique McKinzie and Booker Washington also had 13 points each.

Northeast was led by KJ Bluford with 28 points.

Central revenge

McCook had beaten Central C.C. earlier this season in McCook. But the host Raiders returned the favor Sunday, thanks to a huge first half. Central outscored MCC 52-30 in the opening 20 minutes.

MCC cooled off at the charity stripe Sunday, hitting just 18 of 32 free throws for 56.3 percent. Central was 16 of 25 at the line (64.0 percent).

The hosts put up 27 more total field goal attempts than McCook.

Marquis Burleson tallied 21 points and had 7 rebounds to pace MCC Sunday. Carl Swallow added 14 points, and Utti chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds.

The McCook men are 10-6 overall, 2-1 in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play, and 2-1 in National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-Region action.

Home weekend upcoming

MCC has a pair of home games on tap next weekend against Eastern Wyoming College Friday, Jan. 20, and Western Nebraska C.C. (Scottsbluff) Saturday, Jan. 21. Both games are set to open at 7 p.m. at True Hall gym on the MCC campus in McCook.