Dec. 16, 2024, SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team put the nation on notice Monday, earning an emphatic 99-82 road victory over No. 8-ranked South Suburban College. The win extended the Raiders' scorching win streak to nine games and was highlighted by a dominant all-around performance.

GRCC came out firing, scoring the first 11 points of the game and never relinquishing the lead. The Raiders led by as many as 28 points and took a commanding 59-33 advantage into halftime. Their relentless effort on both ends of the floor was key, as they recorded a season-high 14 blocked shots and shot a blistering 56.3% from three-point range.

The Raiders also achieved perfection at the free-throw line, converting all 24 of their attempts — a remarkable feat that proved crucial in holding off a late push by the Bulldogs.

Sophomore guard Bashir Neely led the way with a game-high 22 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the field. It was his second consecutive 20-plus-point outing, following a 26-point performance on Saturday.

Tyran Thomas delivered his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 21 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Thomas was automatic at the charity stripe, finishing a perfect 10-for-10.

Marshaun Flakes was a force on both ends of the court, adding 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting while also tallying five rebounds and three blocks.

Freshman forward Ethan Bennett anchored the defense with a career-high six blocks to go along with eight rebounds and six points. Ben Koubek chipped in nine points, four rebounds, and two blocks to round out a well-balanced team effort.

Head coach Joe Fox praised his team's resilience and execution. "This was a statement win for our program," Fox said. "From the opening tip, our guys played with confidence and intensity, and it showed in the results. We knew South Suburban was a great team, but we stayed disciplined and made big plays when it mattered."

With the victory, GRCC moves to 9-2 on the season and will look to continue its momentum heading into the new year. The Raiders have one more non-conference game on Jan. 4 at home against Montcalm Community College before beginning their conference slate on Jan. 11.


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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.