HUTCHINSON, Kansas – Tyrel Morgan and JD Ray combined for 50 points as NOC raced past Holmes (MS) 77-66 Tuesday night at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. The win was the Mav’s 13th straight.
The #2 Mavs (24-1) face #10 Coffeyville (24-3) at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Hear the broadcast live on 1047 The Bull, made possible by Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, Diemer Construction, Brining Insurance, Mary’s Grill, CK Landscaping, Dr. Sarah J Campbell “Love Your Smile”, Simple Simon’s Pizza and First National Bank of Oklahoma
“I thought our guys did a great job of being locked in defensively,” said coach Donnie Jackson. “Holmes is a well coached team. They run a lot of double screens for their shooters. I felt our guys did a great job making it difficult for their shooters and taking away their clean looks.”
NOC started out fast against the Bulldogs jumping out to an early 20-6 lead midway through the first half.
Holmes, located in Goodman, Mississippi, then went on a 22-7 run to take a 28-27 lead over the Mavs late in the first half.
Ray then hit a 3-pointer with :22 left in the half giving NOC a 32-29 lead at intermission.
In the second half, the Mavs would build a lead and Holmes would rally. NOC built a 40-32 lead but Holmes rallied to 40-37. The Mavs then started to distance themselves from the Bulldogs building a 60-46 lead at the 10:00 mark.
The Mavs then built a 67-51 lead and the closest Holmes would get would be 75-66 in the game’s final seconds.
Ray and Morgan were a combined 15-24 from the floor and 18-21 from the line.
Avante Lederer also reached double figures with 11 points.
Nate Goodlow led the Mavs with six rebounds and five assists, Ray had four steals while Morgan and Goodlow had three steals each.
NOC outrebounded Holmes 31-25 and forced 21 Holmes’ turnovers.
In looking ahead to Thursday’s game, Coffeyville split two games with Cowley College, a team the Mavs beat home and away. Cowley advanced to the Elite 8 on Tuesday with a wild 134-107 win. The Tigers scored 77 points in the first half.
“Coffeyville is a great team,” Jackson said. “They are big, deep and have a plethora of offensive weapons. We will really need to bring a great defensive effort.”
“It’s all about surviving and advancing at this stage,” he added. “Everyone is good at the national tournament.”
Mavs 77, Holmes (MS) 66
1 2–Total
Holmes 29 37- 66
Mavs 32 45– 77
Mavs–T. Morgan 26, J. Ray 24, A. Lederer 11, D. McLean 7, J. Wilson 4, N. Goodlow 3, M. Crawford 2.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services which create life-changing experiences and develop students as effective learners and leaders within their communities in a connected, ever changing world.
NOC, a public two-year community college, serves nearly 5,000 students on the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, online, and the University Center in Ponca City. Of these students about 60% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. Over 80% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
NOC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science. The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.
Call (580) 628-6200 for more information about Northern Oklahoma College or visit www.noc.edu .
