The North Central Missouri College men played their third game in the Kansas City metro area over the past five nights, dominating the first half, but struggling to hold a double-digit lead in the second, before clutch play in the final two minutes gave Coach Jeremy Esry’s squad a 67-61 road win at Johnson County Community College.
The Pirates continue to go as far as their dominant sophomore duo of Jalen Gant and Ryan Ward will take them offensively, with Gant scoring 28 points to lead NCMC on Tuesday night, including 14 of 21 from the free throw line, in addition to 12 rebounds and four assists. Ward’s value to the Pirates came ‘beyond the arc’, as the former Hartville Eagle nailed 6 of 9 three-point shots, and added two clutch free throws late in the game, for 20 points. Emil Spriggs and Jordan Reece both had six points in the North Central victory.
NCMC pulled away from the Cavaliers late in the first half, with a run spurred by Ward’s outside shooting giving the visitors a 49-31 halftime lead. Johnson County made a furious comeback in the second half, and while the Cavs ‘caught’ the Pirates, JCCC was unable to overtake NCMC, in falling to 0-6 on the season.
Sophomore guard Anthony Lupardus had 22 points for Johnson County, including 4 of 10 shooting from 3-point range. The win pushes the Pirates to 4-2, including a 2-1 mark in their 3-game road swing through Kansas City. Tuesday night’s game from Cavalier Fieldhouse was broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7 and U-Click TV.
The Pirates will host Park University’s junior varsity on Friday night at the Ketcham Community Center, with a 7 o’clock tip. On Tuesday, November 21st, the Lady Pirates and Pirates travel to Creston, Iowa for a doubleheader with the Southwestern CC Spartans. The women’s game tips at 5:30, with the men’s game, featuring the defending JUCO D-2 national champion Spartans, tipping off at 7:30.
Photo credit – Jim Bligh / U-Click TV / Overland Park, KS
