Jan. 6, 2024, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a three week lay off, the Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams were both in action on Saturday, and the men's team started off the year with a 77-72 win over Southwestern Michigan College, partly due to big shots down the stretch from freshman Jack Agema.

Agema, a guard from Calvin Christian High School, scored the go-ahead bucket for the Raiders with 4:34 left, making it 67-66.  With a minute remaining, Agema went to the line and made both free throws to put GRCC up 72-69.  

After Tristan McRoberts put the Raiders up four with 40 seconds left, SMC's Rashawn Bost made three-point play to make it just a one point game again, but Agema made two more clutch free throws to put GR back up three.  After SMC missed it's next attempt, Agema would be fouled again and seal the victory with two more free throws.

Agema finished with 15 points, his second-highest total of the season.

McRoberts also had his second best outing of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  He made his first six field goal attempts and scored 11 of the team's first 13 points of the game. 

Agema wasn't the only play to come off the bench to have a great game. Javon Golson was five-of-six from the field, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds.  Darrell Belcher had seven points, eight rebounds and a game-high four assists and three steals.

"It was nice to see the guys so engaged in their first game back after a three week break," said head coach Joe Fox. "They locked into the scout and played really well defensively, especially in the second half when the pace picked up.  Southwestern is an athletic team with size and our guards did a great job engaging their bigs and moving the ball."

GRCC's women's team didn't fare as well in the earlier game, dropping an 81-30 decision to a very good SMC team that improved to 13-1 on the season.  

Avery Jirous scored a team and career-high 15 points in the loss, and Ava Schultz had a team and career-best 13 rebounds.  

GRCC is back in action on Jan. 10 as they travel to Lansing Community College for a 5:30 / 7:30 pm doubleheader.

CURRENT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
CURRENT MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS

  
Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.