Creston, IA—11 different players reached the scoring column for the Marshalltown Community College men's basketball team as the Tigers took down Southwestern Community College 78-39 in Region XI action on Tuesday night. MCC improves to 7-5 on the year.
Merdic Green (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) led the way for MCC with a season-high 14 points. Marlon Williams (Birmingham, AL/Woodlawn) shot 6-8 from the floor to score all 12 of his points in the second half as the Tigers produced a well-balanced attack on the road to win their fourth game in their last five contests.
While the MCC offense recorded its best shooting percentage of the year at 54.2 percent, the Tiger defense provided a major bright spot in allowing the fewest points to an opponent this year. The Warriors shot just 30.0 percent from the floor, including a 26.7 percent (4-15) mark from beyond the arc.
The Tigers scored a major advantage on the glass as MCC held a 43-25 margin, pulling down 11 offensive boards. Seven different Tigers grabbed at least four rebounds, led by Jamal Gatali (Toronto, ONT/Downsview) with six.
Troidell Carter (Lilburn, GA/Meadowcreek) held a considerable size advantage down low and it showed early on as the sophomore scored the game's first four points. Minutes later, Green entered the scoring column with five straight points, including a three-point shot to give the Tigers its first double-digit lead at 20-8. Tyrese Hoxter (Boston, MA/Charlestown) scored the final six points of the half to give the Tigers a comfortable lead heading into the locker room, 32-15.
Carter opened the second half the same way he started the game, with a post-move in the paint for the half's first score. MCC continued to pull away as the defensive pressure proved to be too much for the Warriors. The Tigers scored consecutive baskets on fast-breaks that resulted from turnovers at midcourt, highlighted by a one-handed dunk from Williams. MCC closed out the game on a 14-3 run with Mike Rodriguez (Boston, MA/Redemption Christian Academy) scoring seven of his nine points during the stretch.
John Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Horace Furness) made his first appearance of the year for the Tigers after missing the first two months with a wrist injury. The rookie scored three points to go along with three assists and three rebounds. Raheim Holloway (St. Louis, MO/Jenningers) contributed another strong all-around performance for the Tigers with four points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Dating back to the 2010-11 season, the Tigers have scored four straight victories over Southwestern with an average margin of victory of 23 points.
After 11 consecutive road games, the Tigers will welcome its first home game since Nov. 4 with a Region XI showdown against Ellsworth Community College at 7:00 PM tomorrow night. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the MCC women's team, set to take on Ellsworth at 5:00 PM.
