Defense leads Fort Hays Tech NW over MCC men

The McCook Community College men’s basketball team dropped their second game in as many days at home to start the season. Fort Hays Tech Northwest handed MCC an 85-59 loss Saturday afternoon in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

“Their ball pressure was really the key factor in the game, and their defense really took us out of everything we tried to do,” said MCC Coach Taylor Shaffer, “We had a hard time moving the ball and a hard time getting inside and creating rotations.”

The Tigers forced 22 MCC turnovers and had 14 steals, leading to 17 more shots than the Tribe.

FHTN jumped to an 18-6 lead midway through the first half but MCC hit a couple 3-pointers to cut the lead in half with 8:13 remaining in the half. The Tigers went on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes and held the lead at intermission, 42-27.

MCC was unable to establish any momentum in the second half and the Tiger lead ballooned to 29 with five minutes to play as Fort Hays outscored MCC 43-22 in the second half.

FHTN had four players in double-figures, led by 17 from Austin Jackson. The Tigers shot 42.5 percent for the game, made eight of 30 3-pointers (26.7 percent), made 15 of 21 free throws (71.4 percent) and outrebounded the Indians 40-39.

MCC shot 32.1 percent for the game, made four of 22 shots from distance (18.2 percent) and made 19 of 26 free throws (73.1 percent).

“It was another game where we didn’t shoot the ball very well and a lot of that today had to do with their ball pressure and defense,” said Shaffer.

The Indians had three players in double-figures led by 13 each by sophomore Justin Rushin (Charlotte, N.C.) and Shane Threadgill, sophomore (Idabel, Okla.) and 12 points from sophomore Josue Kangudi (Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo), who also led MCC with 10 rebounds.

MCC will be on the road for its next six games starting with a Tuesday trip Cheyenne, Wyo. for a game against Laramie County Community College and then to Torrington, Wyo. Saturday.

MCC’s next home game is Nov. 17 against Central Community College at 7:30 p.m.

Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com