Box Score Grand Rapids, MI. – The Grand Rapids Community College Raiders (4-2) defeated the Macomb Community College Monarchs (7-3) on Friday, December 11, 88-87. Sophomore,
Jamier Mix led all scorers with 18 points and hit key free throws down the stretch to propel GRCC to victory.
The game against Macomb began much like GRCC's season did. The Raiders started the year 0-2, losing by an average of 19.5 points per game. On Friday night, things looked headed in that same direction. Macomb was well on their way to routing GRCC on their home court. The Monarchs used their height advantage to pound the ball inside to their front court,
Okie Dalton (6/7 – 14 pts) and
Malcolm Cohen (6/12 – 17 pts) to pull out to a commanding 31 – 17 lead with 7:54 remaining in the opening stanza. GRCC countered Macomb's height by speeding the game up and scoring in transition. Many of those transition baskets were three pointers, the Raiders went 8/19 from long range in the first half and went on a 26 to 10 run. Heading into the break, GRCC led 43-41.
In the second half, the game slowed down and the Monarchs once again tried to impose their will in the paint. For the game, MCC scored 40 of their points in the paint compared to GRCC's 22. However, the Raiders continued their hot shooting from beyond the arc, making an amazing 13 of 29 – 45% for the game. With the score knotted at 87, both teams were in the double bonus and both teams failed to capitalize on their free throws. In the final two minutes, MCC's
Antonio Capaldi and GRCC's
Abdul McGraw missed a pair of free throws. With 53 seconds remaining, Jamier Mix was fouled and made 1 of 2 from the charity stripe, giving the Raiders an 88-87 lead. Mix would return the favor by fouling MCC's
Chris Dorsey with 36 second remaining, Dorsey missed on both free throw attempts, as the second attempt caromed off the rim it was last touched by the Raiders. MCC retained possession with 33 seconds to go. In an attempt to keep MCC out of the paint,
Coach Spicer chose to implement a 2/3 zone, which forced the Monarchs to shoot a three with 19 seconds on the clock. Once again, MCC retained possession, this time on a jump ball call. MCC would attempt three more shots in the final 16 seconds, all missed their mark and the Raiders prevailed.
With the win, GRCC has won 4 in a row. Jamier Mix 18 pts,
Michael Spicer 15/7/4,
Myles Ervin 12/8/8,
Claude Finley 10 pts and Abdul McGraw 10 pts all scored in double figures. The Raiders continued to share the ball, assisting on 21 of 28 made field goals.
GRCC will play next in the Judgment Day Classic hosted by Oakland Community College. The Raiders are slated to play Oakland CC at 5pm on 12/18/15 and Wayne County CC at 1pm on 12/19/15. The Raiders next home game is Monday, December 21 against South Suburban (IL), game time is set for 7:30pm.
