Fouls ignite finish for MCC men at Region IX

LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Laramie County Community College men put an end to the McCook Community College basketball season Thursday with a 93-74 win in the Region IX tournament.

“Obviously this was not the way we wanted to go out,” said MCC coach Jacob Brandl said. Early foul trouble by Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) changed the complexion of the game.

“The game definitely shifted when Julian got those early fouls and that really shifted the flow and tide of the game,” Brandl said. “He was really good to start on both ends and some very questionable calls really changed the game for us and it stinks.”

The Eagles shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half on the way to a 45-36 lead at halftime. LCCC made seven of 16 3-pointers (43.8 percent).

MCC, held to 40.5 percent in the first half drifted off to 36.6 percent in the second half. The team made six of 21 3-pointers in the game and sank just nine of 19 free throws (47.4 percent).

Sophomore Damien Perry (Wareham, Mass.) led MCC with 26 points. He went 10 of 20 from the field including three of seven from the 3-point line. Beni Fungula (sophomore, Stockholm, Sweden) scored 19 points and had nine rebounds.

Ezichi Kalu (sophomore, Lagos, Nigeria) led MCC with 12 rebounds and added eight points. Lual fouled out of the game with nine points and four rebounds on a four-for-six shooting night. MCC held a slight rebound edge 49-44.

MCC, which won six of its previous seven games, finishes the season 11-20.

“I want to thank the sophomores that have been here with me for two years and what they have brought to our program and my life,” Brandl said. “We are definitely family and I wish them well in all of their endeavors.”