March 29, 2024

Spartans fall in OT against DMACC

Southwestern’s men’s basketball team nearly avenged a 102-52 loss from Jan. 17 to fifth-ranked DMACC here Saturday, but lost in overtime, 83-78.

The Spartans overcame multiple double-digit deficits in the first half to take a five-point lead with 16.9 seconds left.

But the Bears hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two points with 10.5 seconds remaining. TJ Bower then sank one of two free throws to put the Spartans back up three with :09.9 left in the game.

DMACC got a contested 24-footer to drop with :03 left in the game to send the game into overtime, where the Bears pulled away from Southwestern for the 83-78 victory.

“It was a really good basketball game,” Southwestern head coach Todd Lorensen said. “Unfortunately from our perspective, the wrong team won. Two really good teams making big-time plays. We just came up on the short end of it.”

The Spartans trailed 41-33 at halftime and still trailed with 5:00 to go in regulation, down 60-52.

But Southwestern went on a 10-0 run to take a 62-60 lead.

“We did a really good job, getting to that point where panic could have set in, but got high quality shots and defensive stops,” Lorensen said. “That really showed to me how much we have improved over the course of the year.”

Once in overtime, the two teams remained deadlocked with 2:14 to go at 72-72.

Jaylon Smith, who scored a game-high 26 points for the Spartans, tried to draw contact on a 3-point attempt, but did not get the call. While Smith was on the ground, DMACC got out in transition for a bucket and the foul, turning it into a 3-point play.

After Southwestern went scoreless on the next possession, DMACC made it a 77-72 lead. The Spartans were able to cut the lead to four points, but never got closer down the stretch, as they were forced to foul the Bears in an attempt to extend the game.

“I’m not into the moral victory thing, but it was great to prove it to ourselves. I believe our guys knew we were capable of beating that team, but it was nice to show other people that, too,” Lorensen said. “The only way Saturday becomes a travesty is if we don’t find a way to play really hard on Wednesday night. If we play hard, we’ll have a chance to be successful moving forward.”

Mataika Koyamainavure scored 14 points for the Spartans. Josh Kirk added 11, as Ahmad Newsome and Bower each netted 10 points.

Southwestern shot 45.3 percent from the field for the game, but shot just 21-of-38 from the free throw line for 55.3 percent.

The Spartans, now 19-8 overall and 3-5 in ICCAC Division II play, host Iowa Central (16-11, 4-5) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

DMACC (83) — Aarias Austin 7 4-6 24, Paris Collins 6 2-3 17, Jon Fuqua 3 8-12 14, Trey Sampson 4 1-2 13, Jamar Hurdle 2 4-6 8, Johnny Benson 2 1-3 5, Elliott DeFreitas 1 0-0 2. Totals — 25 20-32 83. FG shooting — 25-65 (38.5 percent). 3-point goals — 13-30 (Austin 6, Sampson 4, Collins 3). Rebounds — 51 (Fuqua 16, DeFreitas 12). Assists — 18 (Austin 6). Steals — 3 (Collins 2). Blocked shots — 5. Turnovers — 15. Team fouls — 26. Fouled out — Hurdle.

SOUTHWESTERN (78) — Jaylon Smith 7 9-16 26, Mataika Koyamainavure 6 2-2 14, Josh Kirk 4 2-7 11, Ahmad Newsome 3 2-3 10, TJ Bower 2 4-6 10, Simon Joseph 1 2-4 4, Dylan Mason 1 0-0 3. Totals — 24 21-38 78. FG shooting — 24-53 (45.3 percent). 3-point goals — 9-24 (Smith 3, Newsome 2, Bower 2, Mason 1, Kirk 1). Rebounds — 33 (Koyamainavure 7, Newsome 5, Jok Kut 5, Bower 5, Kirk 5). Assists — 12 (Smith 6, Newsome 2, Kut 2). Steals — 5 (Smith 4). Blocked shots — 4 (Newsome 1, Smith 1, Kut 1, Bower 1). Turnovers — 10. Team fouls — 24. Fouled out — Kirk, Koyamainavure.

DMACC — 41 69 83

SWCC — 33 69 78