The North Central Missouri College Pirates shook off a slow start to score 66 points after the halftime break, throttling the host Ottawa University junior varsity on Monday night, 103-74.
NCMC led by only one point at the half (37-36) before the second-half explosion. Playing his finest game as a Pirate was freshman forward Jalen Gant, with the Kansas City native putting up 32 points on 13 of 15 shooting, while pulling down 16 rebounds. Ryan Ward and Major Finley both had 13 points, with Demetrius Houston adding 11 in the win, moving the Pirates record to 10-6.
Dee Scruggs came off the bench with his trademark energy to snare 11 rebounds in the win, while M.J. Johnson grabbed 13 rebounds to go with four points.
The Pirates road trip continues tomorrow (Wednesday) night, with Coach Esry and North Central facing a rematch against Southeast Community College. Unlike the first meeting, won by the Storm in Trenton on January 21st, the Wednesday night doubleheader will be at the Southeast campus in Beatrice, Nebraska. Women’s tip is at 5 o’clock, followed by the men at 7:30.
The Lady Pirates will be looking to add to their seven-game winning streak in the game at SECC. Both the Lady Pirates and Pirates, in the next scheduled broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, will play at St. Louis on Saturday, with the women’s tip at 1 o’clock, followed by the men at 3.
