Blue Colts Survive Late Rally by Phantoms to Improve to 4-2
| Middlesex County College’s Johnson Akerele puts up a shot early in the second half against Delaware County Community College. The Blue Colts of MCC defeated the Phantoms, 100-97. |
EDISON, NJ–It was an entertaining game on Thursday night at the Physical Education Center on the main campus of Middlesex County College. Both the Blue Colts of MCC and the Phantoms of Delaware County Community College of Pennsylvania combined to score just under 200 points in a game that got a little more interesting than expected. Both teams each scored 55 points in the second half as Middlesex C.C. hung on for a 100-97 victory.
The game was almost as even as it could be statistically. Middlesex had a slight edge in field goal percentage shooting 59.3 percent versus 56.2 percent for DCC. The Colts also had a slight edge in rebounds (28-27) and assists (18-17) while the Phantoms committed fewer turnovers (13-15). However, Middlesex County College shot better (52.2 percent vs. 42.1 percent) and scored more points (36-24) from three point range while shooting better (72 percent vs. 70 percent) and scoring more points (18-7) from the charity stripe as well. Delaware County was able to hang around thanks to more two point field goals (33-23) and more steals (10-6).
Middlesex had 8 different players score in the contest while Delaware County had 7. Both teams had four players score in double figures. The Phantoms were led by Khayyir Laws, who scored a game high 30 points on 13 of 22 shooting from the floor and 4 of 5 from the foul line. Amonie Holloman chipped in with 21 points on 8 of 15 shooting overall from the floor including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Elijah Brown and Sean Havnik each added 14 points in a losing cause for the Pennsylvania school. Meanwhile, the Colts were led by Jon Bracero, who scored a team high 27 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the floor including 5 of 8 from long distance, and 8 of 12 shooting from the foul line.
In addition to Bracero, Eugene Campbell turned in a solid shooting performance for MCC with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. Big man, Berruche Archille also shot the ball well en route to a 17 point effort. The Colonia native made 7 of 10 field goal attempts while making 3 of 5 from the foul line. Sayreville’s Mike Valentin rounded out the double figure scoring quartet for MCC with 10 points on 4 of 9 shooting from the floor including two of four from three point range. Middlesex was able to take a three point 45-42 lead at the half as both teams combined for 87 first half points. The two teams managed to raise their games offensively in the second half with a combined 110 points.
The Phantoms came out strong to start the second half with a 13-6 spurt over the first 4:16 to take a 55-51 lead over MCC with under 16 minutes to play. Middlesex bounced back though with a 19-8 tear over the next 4:09 including a three from the right wing by Bracero, a bucket by Campbell, and a putback by Archille off a Bracero miss for a 70-63 Blue Colts lead with 11:35 remaining. Over the next 2:33, DCC chipped away at the deficit with an 8-6 run that was capped by a rebound and coast to coast layup by Laws for a 76-71 MCC lead with 9:02 left. The Colts then appeared to pull away with a 17-12 showing over a span of 5:57 that included a baseline jumper from the right side by Campbell and a two handed dunk by Archille off an inbounds by Stephen Mendez at the 3:05 mark for a 93-83 lead.
However, Delaware County Community College wouldn’t go away. Instead the Phantoms rallied with a 14-7 spurt to finish the game. Middlesex actually led by three possessions with under a minute to play, but the Phantoms managed to have a chance to tie the game as time ran out. DCC knocked down a three pointer with 24 seconds to play to close the gap to 97-94. Campbell then was fouled, and made two big free throws with 9.6 seconds left for a five point lead. MCC then let Delaware County roll the ball up to about half court, and the Phantoms took advantage as Holloman drained a long three from well beyond the arc on the right side of the key to make it a 99-97 game with 5.1 seconds left.
Bracero then was fouled, and made one of two from the line with 4.5 seconds left for a 100-97 lead. Following a Delaware County timeout, the Phantoms had a chance to tie, but Holloman’s three attempt at the buzzer was off the mark, and Middlesex County College survived with a three point win. The victory was the third in a row for the Colts, which improved to 4-2 on the young season. Delaware County dropped to 2-2 with the loss.
GMC NOTES: Seven former players from the Greater Middlesex Conference saw action in the game with five of them getting into the books for the Colts of MCC. In the two games covered by GMC Hoops, former E.B. Tech standout, Eugene Campbell has averaged 20 points per game while Colonia’s Berruche Archille has averaged 16 points per game. Sayreville’s Mike Valentin has averaged 11.5 points per game and Jon Bracero has averaged 17 points per game.