Marshalltown, IA—Mike Rodriguez (Boston, MA/Redemption Christian Academy) poured in a team-high 28 points on 10-19 shooting to carry the Marshalltown Community College men's basketball team to a season-opening 83-61 win over Quakerdale Prep at the Emerson JUCO Classic Friday night in the Student Activity Center.
Rodriguez recorded his 11th career 20-point scoring effort in the win, knocking down six shots from three-point range. Guilherme Verardo (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Esporte Clube Pinheiros) shot 5-10 to tally 15 points while sophomore Merdic Green (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) and Terence Shelby Jr. (Peoria, IL/Limestone) each added 10.
Green and Paulius Sakinis (Nebraska City, NE/Lourdes Central Catholic) paced the Tigers on the glass, each recording 10 boards. The double-double is the first of Green's career while Sakinis added a team-best three blocks and three steals.
Rodriguez, Green, and Verardo, the team's three returning sophomores, combined for the team's first 15 points of the game, including two triples from Verardo. The Tigers held a comfortable lead for a majority of the first half, holding at least a six-point edge for the final 16 minutes of the first half.
Rodriguez's shooting touch caught fire in the second half as the sophomore scored 18 points in the final 20 minutes. The Eagles brought the score to within six at the 11:14 mark, but Rodriguez responded with a three-point shot as the Tigers carried out their first victory of the season.
David Stewart (Boston, MA/Madison Park) contributed six points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end. As a team, the Tigers outrebounded Quakerdale 49-41 with a 22-12 advantage on offensive boards.
In Friday's opening match, Highland Community College fell to John Wood Community College 72-65. MCC will take on Highland on Saturday at 7:00 PM while John Wood and Quakerdale will play at 5:00 PM.
