Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Classic Tournament Homepage
Marshalltown, IA—Five different players scored in double-figures on Thursday night as the Marshalltown Community College men's basketball team erupted for a season-high point total, dropping Graceland JV 109-57 on the opening night of the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Classic at the Student Activity Center.
After scoring 51 points in the opening half, the Tigers upped their performance in the final frame to score the team's most points in a game since a 114-87 victory over Little Priest Tribal College on Nov. 14, 2015.
Sophomore Reggie Gradwell (Marshalltown, IA/West Marshall) scored a career-high 21 points for the Tigers after connecting on six of nine three-point shots. Freshman Mohamed Thiam (Dekar, Senegal/Canarias) recorded a double-double in the first half alone and finished the night with 17 points and a team-high 15 rebounds.
Freshman Jamir Coleman (San Antonio, TX/Pro Vision) scored 20 points on an efficient night, shooting 6-9 from the floor in just 13 minutes of play while knocking down all five free throw attempts. Floyd Preito (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution) came off the bench to score 12 points and dish out four assists while Souf Mensah (Nantes, France/Canarias), this week's Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Player of the Week, added 11 points and five assists.
SOUF MENSAH NAMED ICCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
As a team, the Tigers drained 15 three-point shots, the most for an MCC team since Feb. 9, 2013 where the Tigers hit 16 in a 106-78 victory over Quakerdale Prep. MCC shot 53.4 percent from the floor, including 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers converted 16 of their 22 free throw attempts on the night.
Thiam sparked the Tigers on both ends of the floor in the early stages Thursday night as the freshman had five points and three rebounds in the opening two minutes. After taking an 11-9 lead over Graceland at the 17:14 mark, MCC put on a show for the MCC fans. The Tigers used a series of three-point shots, including a pair from freshman Aaron Hauser (Marshalltown, IA/Marshalltown) to pull away. MCC closed the half on a 40-15 run.
The offense continued to roll in the second half, scoring nine of the first 11 points to open the frame. Gradwell caught fire for MCC in the second half, hitting five of his three-point shots. Preito added 10 of his season-high 12 points in the closing half to give MCC its third-straight victory to open the season.
Hauser has connected on three three-point shots in each of the team's three games this year, shooting an effective 64.3 percent clip. Freshman Tony Smith (Marshalltown, IA/Marshalltown) came off the bench to score five points and added six rebounds in the win.
The Tigers dominated in all categories on Thursday night, including a 60-24 rebounding advantage. MCC used 42 points in the paint and received a staggering 70 points from the bench.
The Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Classic continues Friday night with a pair of non-MCC games. In the opening women's game, St. Louis Community College takes on Southeastern Community College at 5:00 PM. In the men's nightcap, Graceland JV and State Fair Community College tip-off at 7:00 PM.
The Tigers conclude the three-day event on Saturday night at 7:00 PM against State Fair following the MCC women's game against St. Louis at 5:00 PM.
For full information, scores, updates, and more, visit the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Classic homepage: TOURNAMENT HOMEPAGE
