Jan. 15, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams showcased stellar performances in a Wednesday night doubleheader against Lake Michigan College. The GRCC women cruised to a decisive 78-49 victory, while the men staged an electrifying comeback to win 113-105, highlighted by a record-breaking performance from freshman guard Marshaun Flakes.

Men's Team: Flakes Breaks Records in Thrilling Comeback

The GRCC men's team (15-2 overall, 2-0 in conference) extended their winning streak to 12 games, overcoming a 14-point deficit with just 13 minutes remaining. Behind an incredible school-record 53-point effort from Flakes, the Raiders dominated the second half to seal the victory.

Flakes was unstoppable, scoring 30 of his points in the second half. He shot 17-for-28 from the field, 9-for-13 from three-point range, and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. In addition to his scoring, he recorded career highs in rebounds (10), steals (7), and blocks (2).

The game turned when Flakes capped off a 12-0 run with a three-pointer, cutting LMC's lead to 75-72 with 11:38 left. His two free throws at the 8:11 mark gave GRCC the lead for good. The Raiders' 15-0 run later in the half extended their lead to 10 points, and despite two late pushes by LMC, GRCC maintained control.

Freshman Zeekeal Jackson contributed 23 points and 6 rebounds, nearly matching his career high. Tyran Thomas recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. GRCC dominated the boards, outrebounding LMC 51-35, and made 21 more free throws.

Coach Joe Fox praised Flakes' performance:

"What an incredible performance by Marshaun. We were a little short-manned tonight and Marshaun really stepped up to answer the bell. He managed all facets of the game, played a great point guard role, and didn't force anything. What was most impressive to me was how efficient the effort was, 53 points on 28 shots. A well-earned school record and a well-earned win. We also got some huge minutes from other contributors once again. Tyran had a double-double, Zeek scored 23, and Gaden's defense totally turned the game around for us. He gave us 30 minutes of incredible energy and effort, and hit a clutch shot for us down the stretch. Mason Wilcox, Javon Golson, Darius Baker, the list goes on. I'm a very proud coach today."

Women's Team: Dominant Start Propels GRCC to Victory

The GRCC women's team (3-7 overall, 1-1 in conference) set the tone early, jumping out to a 10-0 lead before LMC scored their first basket. The Raiders never looked back, using a balanced attack and strong defensive effort to secure their first conference win of the season.

Ava Schultz led the way with her eighth career double-double, tallying a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds. Olivia McKellar added 16 points, including three three-pointers, while Tianna Daye contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and a game-high 6 steals. GRCC's bench also outshined LMC's reserves, with Tatyana Hardman scoring 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

The Raiders tied their season-high with 10 made three-pointers and dished out a season-high 22 assists, including a career-best performance 11 from Tia Richard. Defensively, they held LMC to just one three-pointer, forced 23 turnovers and held LMC to less than 30 percent from the field. 

Looking Ahead

Both teams return to action on January 18, traveling to Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. The women tip off at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.

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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.