JAMESTOWN – After a strong first half, the Jamestown Community College men's basketball team was edged out by Cuyahoga Community College, 70-66, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Education Complex.
The Jayhawks (3-4) fell behind early as Dorian Crutcher knocked down a three-pointer in the opening seconds. Jamestown was able to respond quickly as Sheick Kourmora found Donathan Daniels for a three-pointer of his own. The momentum quickly shifted back to Tri-C, going on a 6-2 run that was capped off by a James Graham Dunk. Jamestown called a timeout to help slow down. Cuyahoga. Out of the timeout, Kourmora quieted the Tri-C bench with another three-pointed. Kourmora continued to have the hot hand, knotting the game up at 11-11 with his third three-pointer in five minutes of play.
Jamestown fell behind 18-14 but turned things around quickly. The Jayhawks found their offense, going on a 15-0 run thanks to three-pointers from Kourmora, Kane Kenyon and Isaac Allen along with layups from Kyle Butler and Jordan Thomas. Thomas rounded out the run with two made free throws. Tri-C was stuck around late in the first half, cutting the deficit too two, trailing 29-27. The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half but JCC took a 39-35 lead into the half with two made free throws from Kourmora.
Cuyahoga regained the lead with 15 minutes to go in regulation with a layup from Tyrek Battle-Holley, making it 42-41. The teams were in a defensive battle in the second half, going three minutes without a bucket being made in the game. Wendell Wright stopped the scoring drought with 10 minutes to go in the half with a jumper, making it 50-46.
Tri-C got their biggest lead of the game late in the second half, up 64-54 with 2:27 to go. Allen cut the deficit back to single-digits, making both of his free throw attempts, making it 64-56. Allan played big down the stretch, converting an and-one opportunity with just over a minute to go, making it 64-61. Cuyahoga answered with a basket but Kourmora made yet another three-pointer, cutting the lead to three. Forcing the Jayhawks to foul, Crutcher made his last four free throw attempts to close the game out.
Kourmora had a team-high 24 points with five made three-pointers and going 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Thomas added 11 points and Allen chipped in with 10 points coming off the bench.
Thomas had a team-high seven rebounds (two offense, five defense) with Butler grabbing six rebounds (one offense, five defense) Butler also had four assists on the day.
Cuyahoga took advantage of the mistakes from the Jayhawks, scoring 23 points off turnovers to JCC's seven. Jayhawks held the advantage in points off the bench, 26-9.
The Jayhawks will be in hiatus until Decmeber 2nd, when they take on Lorain County Community College at the Physical Education Complex for a 7 p.m. tip.