Grand Rapids CC Beats MCC Men 86-68 in Regional Semifinals
The successful MCC men’s basketball season came to a close on Friday night, when the Grand Rapids CC Raiders defeated the Jayhawks 86-68 in the NJCAA Region 12 semifinals in Donaldson, Ind.
Early foul trouble doomed the Jayhawks, who were playing at Ancilla College’s gymnasium. Poor field goal shooting, including 0-for-13 from behind the arc in the fist half, also led to the heart-breaking loss.
Despite trailing 20-37 at halftime, MCC managed an offensive run at the outset of the second half and cut the GRCC lead to 12 points, but could get no closer.
Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City), came up with a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) added 16 points and six rebounds.
MCC Coach Dave Schlump praised his sophomore-led Jayhawks, who closed out the season with a 22-9 mark.
“It was a great year,” he said. “I am really proud of these guys. Twelve conference wins. Twenty-two wins overall. It was a great season.”
Men’s Basketball Tops Ancilla 76-70; Advances to NJCAA Semis on Friday
“Win and advance,” was how Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Dave Schlump summed up post-season play.
On Tuesday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, his MCC team did just that in the NJCAA Region 12 quarterfinals beating Ancilla 76-70 in a game that wasn’t decided until the closing seconds. Now 22-4, MCC faces rival Grand Rapids CC in the semifinals on Friday at Ancilla College in Indiana.
In a seesaw battle, MCC stole the short lead early highlighted by two dunks by Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City), who finished with a double-double with 14 points and14 rebounds. MCC owned a 37-30 halftime edge.
During the final stretch of the second half down, the Jayhawks were able to come up big on a few keys plays. With the game tied and following a timeout at the 1:20 mark, Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millineum) sunk a key three-pointer for the hosts. He finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. In the final minute, a floater by Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) and a late free throw helped 
seal the win for the Jayhawks. Law closed with 21 points and teammate Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) scored 11. The hosts had 21 assists to just seven turnovers.
Coach Schlump gave “a lot of credit to Ancilla who came in as the sixth seed and played well with their backs to the wall.”
Men’s Basketball Downs Glen Oaks 78-71; Earns First Round Playoff Bye
The MCC men’s basketball squad defeated Glen Oaks 78-71 in the regular season finale Saturday afternoon in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Now 23-6 overall, MCC has a 12-4 record in the conference and will wait to see who it will play on March 6.
“As a coaching staff, we felt we had a good nucleus of veteran players coming back this season, but we also stepped up our non-conference schedule with teams like Oakland, St. Claire and Mid-Michigan,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump speaking about the team’s success.
MCC led 35-29 at halftime, which it extended to 16 points in the second half. Glen Oaks cut the margin to five points before the Jayhawks secured the victory with free throws in the waning minutes.
Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) scored 21 points, Mike Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) chipped in 14 points and seven boards, and Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) added 10 points. Luke Ghiardi (Gwinn, MI/Gwinn) came off the bench and doled out six assists.
MCC Men Clinch Home Playoff Game; Defeat Kellogg CC 90-66 on the Road
The MCC men’s basketball team clinched a first round home playoff game on March 6 after downing Kellogg CC 90-66 in Battle Creek, Mich., on Wednesday night.
The Jayhawks, now in third place with an 11-4 record, still have a chance to move into second place currently held by Grand Rapids CC with a 11-3 mark and two games left. MCC closes out the regular season at home Saturday with a 3 p.m. tilt against Glens Oaks CC in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
“It’s a tribute to this team,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker. “I can’t remember the last time that Muskegon had a first round home game in the playoffs. We moved the ball well early which got us going. Our defense and our rebounding were the keys.”
Kulawanie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium) netted a team-leading 19 points. Mike Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City), a top five national shot blocker, added six more to surpass the 100 mark for the season. He scored 18 points and hauled in 11 rebounds. Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) added 17 points and Isaah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) chipped in 15 tallies. Luke Ghiardi (Gwinn, MI/Gwinn) handed out seven assists.
The Jayhawks, who led 50-30 at halftime, shot 36-of-74 from the field and made 12-of-16 from the free throw line for the game.
MCC Men Tame the KVCC Cougars 85-71
The MCC men’s basketball team, which saw a big lead erode by halftime, got a much-needed energy boost down the stretch to pull out an 85-71 win over visiting Kalamazoo Valley CC on Wednesday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
The Jayhawks, who remained in third place in the conference with a 9-4 record, opened up a 21-8 lead midway through the first half. Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium), who was unstoppable for awhile driving the paint, had 12 of his team-high 22 markers in the first half.
But KVCC chopped away at MCC’s lead and tied the game at 28-28 with 2:07 left before intermission. A 7-2 Cougar run gave the visitors the halftime lead and plenty of momentum.
“I told them I was disappointed that we did that,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “I didn’t think we had the energy we needed. I thought we played a lot like we had practiced the day before. Players don’t like to hear that. But they bit the bullet and they responded and we got a win. A lot of people contributed.”
KVCC increased its margin to 41-32 early in the second half. Then the Jayhawks turned the tables. Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) ignited the comeback from beyond the arc. He scored 20 points, including four threes. Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) nearly had a triple double with 14 points, including a couple of dunks, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) scored 12 points and reserve guard Luke Ghiardi (Gwinn, MI/Gwinn) guided the Jayhawks offense with five assists.
“It was a tale of energy,” said Schlump. “I never ever will complain when we get a win, but there’s a lot of things to be learned from this one. One of the things we’re going to learn is how much more mentally tough we have to be in these last three or four weeks of the season. Everyone is going to be tired. We have to come out with that mental toughness and fight ourselves through that.”
Stoll ‘Perfect’ in 88-66 Win at LMCC
MCC’s 6-7 sophomore forward Matt Stoll (Kent City. MI/Kent City) achieved perfection in the Jayhawks’ 88-66 victory over host Lake Michigan CC on Friday night in Benton Harbor, MI.
Stoll scored 20 points by finishing 7-of-7 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, while also adding seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
Now 8-4 in the Western Conference, MCC moved a half-game ahead of Jackson and Glen Oaks for third place. The latter two teams are in league games on Saturday. Meanwhile, Lake Michigan CC is still winless in the league.
MCC’s Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium) scored 20 points, as well, adding five assists and four rebounds. The Jayhawks got strong play from their guards. Attacking the rim was Stephen Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) with 16 points, while Luke Ghiardi (Gwinn, MI/Gwinn) distributed nine assists against just one turnover. Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) added 11 points.
“This was a nice game for us to bounce back from after the loss to Lansing,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker. “We shot 33-of-63 from the field, over 50 percent, which is good on the road. Defensively, we played great as a team, especially in the first half when we held them to just 22 points. We led by 15 points, 27-22, at halftime.”
Lansing CC Wins a 90-88 Heartbreaker
The league-leading Lansing CC men’s basketball team handed the host MCC Jayhawks their most heartbreaking loss of the season on Wednesday night at Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, where the visitors stole the ball and scored the game winner with seven seconds left.
The 90-88 final margin marked the only time that Lansing led MCC, except for a two-minute span early in the first half. The Jayhawks defeat was all the more painful because the hosts went on a 22-6 run, most off of three-pointers, in the first four minutes of the second half for a 62-44 lead with 15:43 left.
“I thought we were attacking the rim and playing with a lot of energy and passion,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “We just didn’t sustain it like we needed to. We got ourselves into the foul trouble and had to sit some people. If you want to beat a first place team, a team that only has one loss in the conference, you need to finish the deal and we didn’t do that.”
Lansing kept whittling away at the lead, cutting it to two points twice, 80-78 and 82-80 with two minutes left. A Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) tip-in upped MCC’s lead to 84-80 before a LCC tip-in seconds later had the lead back to two. With 55 seconds remaining, a Keur free throw made it 85-82. Lansing finally tied the game on a Skyelar Moore three with 41 seconds to go, but Jayhawks guard Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park), who missed several games with an injury, drained a three-pointer with 28 seconds left for a 88-85 margin. Lansing’s Nate Duhon evened the score with his trey at the 16-second mark. MCC called a pair of timeouts. The Jayhawks inbounded and crossed midcourt, but LCC trapped Kleeves. Duhon stripped the ball and scored the winning layup.
“We had too many turnovers down the stretch,” said Schlump. “We ended up with 15. I like that we were still plus nine in the turnover ratio. That’s just one of those games that’s going to smart for awhile because the team that’s leading the league, we had down the whole game.”
Kleeves scored 11 of his 19 points in the first half, while Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) sank four three-points en route to a 25-point showing. Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) tallied 16 points, Keur added 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Matt Stoll grabbed 11 boards and blocked six shots. Steven Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) had nine assists.
The Jayhawks fall into a three-way tie for third place with a 7-4 mark. LCC is 10-1.
Men Snap Jackson’s Five-Game Win Streak
Playing without two key players, the MCC men’s basketball team put together a total team effort for a 96-90 win that snapped Jackson CC’s five-game win streak and put the Jayhawks in sole possession of third place in the league.
“We were without Matt Stoll and Cody Kleeves,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, noting that guard Kleeves was still out with an injury and Stoll, the Jayhawks shot-blocking and scoring center, had been ill this week.
Trailing 57-42 at halftime, the tenacious Jayhawks erased the 15-point deficit by ramping up their defense play and getting productive minutes from every team member, said Schlump.
“We came out in the second half with renewed resolve and more energy defensively,” said the Jayhawks mentor, his team now 7-3 in the Western Conference and 16-7 overall.
Sophomore Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium) led the Jayhawks with 37 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson CC put the added pressure with a box-and-one on Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) but the 6-4 forward drained 23 points and made seven rebounds. Hard-driving guard Steven Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, MI/Washington) scored 17 points and had four assists and four steals.
Coach Schlump praised the play of his bench, including frosh Guard Asa Wyers (White Cloud, MI/White Cloud), freshman Matt Parrish (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) and sophomore guard Keandre Taylor (Ypsilanti, MI/Ypsilanti).
MCC Men Crush Ancilla 97-73
All five MCC starters scored in double figures on Wednesday night, when the Jayhawks crushed visiting Ancilla College 97-73 in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Sophomore forward Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) led the Jayhawks with his 18 points, 16 rebounds, eights assists and four steals.
Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) netted a team-high 24 points, while Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) added 14, Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) 12 and Steven Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, MI/Washington) 10. Stoll led the hosts with five blocked shots.
“We had great shot selection and moved the ball well,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his team is in a three-way tie 
for third place in the Western Conference with a 6-3 league record. “I thought our guys came together. It’s crunch time in February and I think we are playing our best basketball.”
The 15-7 Jayhawks had 24 team assists and, after turning the ball over 12 times in the first half, only committed three turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
“ I loved our defensive effort, only allowing 29 points in the first half,” added the MCC coach, whose team led 44-29 at intermission.
Glen Oaks Nips MCC Men 89-85
The home standing Glen Oaks CC men’s basketball team edged MCC 89-85 on Wednesday night in Centreville, MI, in a battle for third place in the MCCAA Western Conference.
Glen Oaks is now 5-2 and tied for second while MCC falls to 5-3 and is in fourth at the midway point of league play.
The hosts jumped to an early lead behind the three-point shooting of Karvel Anderson, whose 39 points paced Glen Oaks. Trailing 45-35 at halftime, MCC countered with Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) who netted 37 points, including 6-of-10 from outside the arc, along with 10 boards.
“”I was impressed with the level of energy shown by our bench tonight,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker. “We were down 10 with 10 to go and showed a tremendous amount of energy. The game was toed 83-83 with a few minutes to go, They just made the plays at the end. We also shot poorly (11-of-21) from the free throw line.”
The Jayhawks, who only turned the ball over eight times, got some offensive punch from Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) added 11 points and Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) had 10 tallies and six boards
Men’s Basketball Routs Kellogg CC 96-78
Visiting Kellogg CC didn’t have an answer for MCC three-point marksmen Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) and Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Milllenium) on Saturday afternoon in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, where the Jayhawks coasted to a 96-78 victory.
Both Law and Saunders connected on five of their nine three-point tries. Law closed with 27 points and Saunders with 25. The Jayhawks’ offensive punch included Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) with 14 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.
One of the keys to MCC’s success was the play of Brandon Keur (Muskegon. MI/Orchard View) according to MCC Head Coach Dave Schlump. “We wouldn’t be able to do the things we’re doing without him,” said Schlump, praising Keur for remaining positive and focused as a reserve playing limited time last semester and as a player who’s worked his way into the starting line-up with unexpected changes to the Jayhawks roster.
Keur scored 11 points and brought down nine rebounds. He also had a team-high five assists and was 5-of-8 from the line. MCC was without starter Cody Kleeves, who missed the game with an injury sustained against Grand Rapids CC a few days ago.
The 14-6 Jayhawks are now 5-2 and in third place in the Western Conference.
Grand Rapids CC Defeats MCC Men 81-68
The host Grand Rapids CC men’s basketball team increased its Western Conference first place lead with an 81-68 win over second place MCC on Wednesday night.
Lansing CC (5-0) and Grand Rapids (4-0) are atop the division, while MCC falls to fourth place with its 4-2 league mark.
Men’s Hoops Defeats Kalamazoo Valley CC 91-83
Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) scored 25 points, grabbed 12 points and blocked seven shots to lead the MCC men’s basketball squad to a 91-83 victory over host Kalamazoo Valley CC on Saturday afternoon.
“This was a great road win,” said Jayhawks Coach Dave Schlump. “This was our fourth game in one week. It wasn’t always pretty but to be on the road and get a win is great. “
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) scored 23 points, while Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) contributed 13 tallies and seven rebounds.
The Jayhawks extended their 10-point halftime lead to 20 points in the second half, before KVCC cut it to six.
“We kept the lead around eight to ten points, hitting some key free throws to seal the win,” said Schlump, his team now 13-5. “This sets up an important conference game on Wednesday in Grand Rapids, with 5-0 GRCC playing 4-1 Muskegon Community College.”
Men’s Balanced Attack Fells LMCC 94-71
For a second straight game, the MCC men’s basketball squad unfurled a balanced scoring attack that produced a 94-71 victory over visiting Lake Michigan College on Wednesday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
“It was a good one to get after a tough loss on Monday night,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his team now tied for third in the Western Conference with a 3-1 mark. “It’s a nice turnaround game but a short turnaround because we play again on Saturday. That’s three games in one week. Just to have the opportunity to win two out of three is a good thing, but it’s a tall task with two of those on the road.”
The Jayhawks took the lead for good 16-13 on a Kulawanie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Milennium) three-pointer just six minutes into the contest. LMC kep the score close for the next 10 minutes before MCC went on a run and led 45-32 at halftime. The Jayhawks were never threatened in the second half.
The balanced MCC attack included Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) with 22, Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) with 15, Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) with 14, Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) with 12, Saunders with 10 and Steven Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) with nine.
Keandre Taylor (Ypsilanti, MI/Ypsilanti) grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and Matt Parrish (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) added 10
Lansing Hands MCC Men First League Loss 89-79
Lansing CC jumped out to an early lead it never relinquished in handing the MCC men’s basketball squad its first league loss 89-79 on Monday night in Lansing.
“We spotted them 10 points in the first two minutes and we were never able to overcome that,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his team falling to 2-1 in the MCCAA Western Conference and 11-5 overall. “Offense wasn’t the problem for us, defense was. You’re not going to win very often if you give up 53 points in the first half.”
Lansing, now 3-0 in the conference and 7-10 overall, opened its lead to 17 points at one point, but the feisty Jayhawks cut it to three points with six minutes to go in the contest.
Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) paced the visitors with his 20 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City), who had five blocks, scored 19 points and made seven rebounds. Brandon Keur (Muskegon, MI/Orchard View) had 10 points and 10 rebounds.5
MCC returns to action on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. against Lake Michigan CC in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Men Stay Atop Western Division with 95-87 Win
The MCC men’s basketball squad remained atop the Western Conference by staving off a late-game Jackson CC rally to win 95-87 on Friday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Sophomore forward Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven), who was a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point range, hit five of those in the first half. MCC took its largest lead, 55-36, with 15:12 remaining in the game. Law finished with 28 points.
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) tallied 26 of his team-leading 29 points in the second half, including his 13-of-15 free throws.
Jackson surprised its hosts, though, by going on a 34-15 run to knot the game at 70-70 with 8:40 left. The game was still tied at 84-84 with 3:29 to go before the Jayhawks pulled away. MCC guard Kulwanie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) came off the bench and provided some valuable minutes – including his four-point play – down the stretch. Saunders finished with 16 points. Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) had 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
“I loved our balanced scoring,” said Jayhawks Coach Dave Schlump, “and the fact that we had 18 assists and were 26-of-35 from the free throw line.”
The Jayhawks, who are now 2-0 in the MCCAA Western Conference and 11-4 overall, will travel to Lansing CC on Monday.
Men Defeat Ancilla 98-92 in Overtime
In a seesaw league opening battle against Ancilla College, the MCC men’s basketball team persevered in overtime for a 98-92 victory on Wednesday night in Donaldson, Ind.
Sophomore forward Isiah Law’s (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) 29 points and 14 rebounds led the Jayhawks, while freshman point guard Steven Ray Jr. (Michigan City, IN) had a career-high 20 points and was error-free in 36 minutes of guiding the MCC offense. Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) drained 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) chipped in 14 points.
Ancilla shot a torrid 71 percent from three-point range and went 12-of-12 from the free throw line in the first half to lead 47-40 at intermission.
“We felt pretty fortunate to trail by only seven at halftime,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker. “And they hit a three at the buzzer for that lead.”
The Jayhawks shifted from a man-to-man to play zone defense in the second half. The move flustered Ancilla. MCC built a 76-67 lead, but the hosts whittled that down in the waning minutes and tied it at 83-83 just before regulation ended.
In overtime, the Jayhawks jumped out quickly to an 88-83 margin on a Ray basket and a Law three-pointer and never looked back.
“We talk about being ready to play and to give it a solid 40 minutes,” said Parker. “Tonight we gave it a solid 45 minutes.”
MCC, now 10-4 overall, hosts Jackson CC in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium on Saturday at 3 p.m. Ancilla fell to 6-5 on the season.
Alpena Defeats Slow-Starting MCC Men 75-60
Unable to protect the ball in the first half, the MCC men’s basketball dug too deep a hole to overcome in losing 75-60 to host Alpena CC in the Thunder Bay Classic on Saturday night.
“We got off to a slow start and didn’t take care of the ball,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker. “We got down by 20 points really early on and trailed by 15 (40-25) at halftime.”
“We cut the lead down to six points with five minutes to go in the game, but when you’ve had to play catch-up all game you run out of gas. We really haven’t played well in back-to-back games in these tournaments this year. We had 12 turnovers in the first half. We played better in the second half but it was too little, too late.”
Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) scored 15 points, while Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park), Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) and Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) each netted 12 points.
The MCC men are off until Jan. 4 when they open conference play at Ancilla College.
Men Sharpshooters Down Kirtland 79-68
Recording its finest shooting effort of the season, the MCC men’s basketball team defeated Kirtland CC 79-68 on Friday afternoon in the opening day of the Thunder Bay Classic at Alpena CC.
“We made 50 percent – 27-of-54 – of our shots from the floor, including 10-of-17 from three-point range,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker.
Sophomore forward Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) sank 22 points and had 10 rebounds, while guard Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) drilled 5-of-8 treys and tallied 20 points. Freshman forward Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium), who hit 3-of-4 threes, and Steven Ray Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) both added nine points.
The Jayhawks led 34-32 at intermission, but fell behind 56-55 with nine minutes to play. MCC, now 9-=3 overall, went on a 10-0 scoring burst, withstood another run, then polished off Kirtland in the waning minutes for the victory.
Men’s Hoops Falls 76-51 to Mid-Michigan CC
The MCC men’s basketball squad’s inability to control the boards allowed Mid-Michigan CC to come away with a 76-51 victory on Saturday night in the Buffalo Wild Wings Holiday Classic contest in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
“They outrebounded us 56-27 and that was the stat of the night,” said MCC Assistant Coach Anthony Parker., who was also disappointed with the Jayhawks’ shooting effort. “We were 16-of-54 from the floor and 6-of-22 from the three-point range.”
MCC trailed 39-32 at halftime but could get no closer than seven points in the second half. Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) had nine points and nine rebounds.
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) netted 14 points, while Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) chipped in nine points.
The Jayhawks fall to 8-3 on the season.
Men Rout Alma JV 88-67 in Holiday Classic
Sophomore guard Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) scored 26 points to lead MCC to an easy 88-67 win over the Alma JV in Friday night’s Buffalo Wild Wings Holiday Classic game in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Now 8-2, the Jayhawks will meet Mid-Michigan CC on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) scored 19 points, had 12 rebounds and blocked a pair of Alma shot attempts. Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kleeves made seven rebounds for the Jayhawks, who controlled the boards all evening by a decisive 53-24 margin.
Law Leads MCC Over Calvin JV 76-68
MCC sophomore forward Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the first half to spark a 76-68 Jayhawks victory over the Calvin JV on Monday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
“I would say that Isiah Law, with 22 points and 12 rebounds, really singlehandedly willed us to this win,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his team now 7-2 overall. “His contributions of rebounding offensively and defensively has just really helped us. Another great game for him to go along with his five assists.”
The Jayhawks skipper pointed to his team’s assists-to-turnovers, 14 to 5, as a barometer of game’s outcome.
“That’s a big stat for us,” he explained. “Anytime you’re plus nine, that’s a win stat. That is what I told the team. I cannot remember the last time we were plus nine.”
After trading baskets early in the game, MCC took the lead for good 11-9 with three minutes elapsed. The Jayhawks built that margin to 14 points – 29-15 – with four minutes left before intermission, when the hosts held a 36-27 lead.
Schlump admitted his displeasure with his team’s sluggish play that allowed Calvin back into the contest late in the game and trimming the lead to six points.
“We looked like a team that played six games in the last 10 days,” he added. “We have tomorrow off and then we are at back at it.”
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) scored 19 points and Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) added 12 more.
MCC will host Alma JV on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the first day of the Buffalo Wild Wings Tournament in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Oakland CC Hands MCC Men 87-74 Loss
For three-quarters of Friday night’s Pepsi Classic, the MCC men’s basketball squad held its own against their much-bigger Oakland CC visitors before a flood of late-game turnovers led to an 87-74 Jayhawks defeat.
MCC, which led 34-30 at halftime, opened a seven-point edge with 13 minutes left.
“Then we had trouble with way too many turnovers down the stretch,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his 6-2 team now hosting the Calvin JVs on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium. “Once we fell behind, we were forced to foul. Oakland is a very good team. I think they’re the team to beat in the East Division. “
Despite Oakland’s superior size, Schlump was pleased with MCC holding a 47-38 edge in rebounds led by 6-7 forward Matt Stoll’s (Kent City, MI/Kent City) 12 caroms, but was troubled by the Jayhawks having 11 more turnovers than their opponents.
Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Milennium) had 18 points, while Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) added 16 points, Steven Ray Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) 12 tallies, and Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) scored 11 points.
Men Avenge Only Loss with 75-67 Pepsi Win
The MCC men’s basketball team avenged its only loss this season by defeating Alpena CC 75-67 on Friday night behind Isiah Law’s (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds in the Pepsi Classic opener.
Playing each other in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium for the second time in a week, the Jayhawks reversed roles this time by withstanding Alpena’s last minute comeback try.
MCC opened a 12 point first half lead that was trimmed to 38-33 at halftime. The Jayhawks got the margin up to 10 points before Alpena, as it did the previous week, whittled it down to two points with three minutes remaining.
“This time we played great defense down the stretch and got off the free throw snide by hitting 21-of-29 in the game,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his 6-1 unit facing Oakland CC at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
Law was 9-of-10 from the line to lead the Jayhawks, while freshman point guard Steven Ray Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) guided the MCC offense and dished out five assists. Jayhawks stalwart forward Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) grabbed 16 rebounds and tallied 16 points.
Men’s Hoops Holds Off Aquinas JV 75-73
Building a 15-point lead midway through the second half, the MCC men’s basketball team fended off a late-game rally by the host Aquinas College JVs to earn a 75-73 victory in Grand Rapids on Tuesday night.
For the second consecutive game, the Jayhawks were led by 6-4, 215-pound freshman forward Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) who tallied 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
MCC had three other double-figure scorers. Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) netted 18 points, guard Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) added 17 points and Kulawanie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium (AZ)) scored 11 points.
“In a span of three days, we learned lessons from a loss and we learned lessons from a win,” explained MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “”It’s heck of a lot better to learn from a win. We’re never going to apologize for a ‘W’.”
The 5-1 Jayhawks will face Alpena CC for a second straight weekend in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium. They meet Friday night at 7 p.m. in the opener of the two-day Pepsi Classic.
Alpena CC Hands Men First Loss 75-72
A feisty Alpena CC squad ramped up its defensive pressure and outscored the previously unbeaten MCC men’s basketball team 12-3 during the final four minutes for a 75-72 victory on Saturday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
“We came out sluggish and they took the play to us,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, his team now 4-1 and traveling to meet the Aquinas JVs on Tuesday. “They made the shots when they needed to.”
In a tight first half in which neither team led by more than five points, Alpena held a 41-35 edge at intermission. But the Jayhawks battled back and took a 47-46 lead with 15:08 left on a Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) basket.
Crawford, the 6-4, 215-pound freshman, was a dominant presence inside the paint with 25 points and nine rebounds.
MCC opened the margin to 56-50 at the 11:09 mark and 58-52 with 10:32 remaining. The hosts, who benefited from Isiah Law’s (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) 11 boards, fended off successive Alpena runs at their lead. The visitors finally knotted the game at 69-69 on a Xavier Walker tip-in with 3:23 left, but did not regain the lead until Derek Hearn’s fast-break lay-up with 1:49 left. Turnovers and missed open shots proved costly down the stretch for the Jayhawks.
Hampered by foul trouble, Jayhawk Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) still scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the finale of the two-day East-West Classic on the home court.
Men’s Hoops Takes Classic Opener 82-62
The undefeated MCC men’s basketball team never trailed St. Clair County CC on Friday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, where they opened the East-West Classic with a 82-62 win.
“When we talked in pre-game, we thought this was going to be a great test for us if could outrebound a team that was bigger, thicker and stronger than we were,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump, whose 4-0 unit finished with a 62-47 edge on the boards.
“We also talked about it being one of those first early tests because the prevailing thought the east side is a superior conference and these guys are always challenging for championships. They’ve been to the national tournament in the past. We did a great job with them.”
The Jayhawks, who led 32-23 at halftime, watched the Skippers pull to within six points, 40-34, with 16:50 left in the game. MCC went on a 25-8 tear over the next seven minutes for a 64-42 lead that took the air out of the Skippers’ sails.
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) netted a team-high 27 points, including four three-pointers, while Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) scored 12 and grabbed 14 rebounds. Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) hauled in 18 rebounds for the Jayhawks, who were aided by Kulawanie Saunders’ (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium) 11 points and Steven Dean’s (Benton Harbor, MI/Covert) 10 tallies.
“We weren’t happy with the 16 turnovers in the first half,” said Schlump. “We ended up with 23 so we cleaned that up, too. Overall, it’s a short-lived happiness because you’ve got to come right back and play another team from the east. But that’s going to make us better.”
On Saturday at 7 p.m., MCC faces Alpena CC who lost 87-83 losers to Kalamazoo Valley at Bartels-Rode Gymnasium on Friday.
Men’s Hoops Edges Mid-Michigan CC 80-76
The unbeaten MCC men’s basketball squad overcame a 14-point first half deficit then persevered in the game’s waning minutes to down host Mid-Michigan CC 80-76 on Wednesday night in Harrison, MI.
Sophomore guard Kulawanie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millennium) scored a team-high 18 points, including four three-pointers, for the 3-0 Jayhawks. MCC’s 6-7 center Matt Stoll rejected seven Lakers’ shots and paced the visitors with double-digit rebounds.
Trailing 44-39 at intermission, MCC took the lead with 15 minutes left, then found itself locked in a back-and-forth battle down the stretch.
“It was a great team effort,” said Jayhawks Coach Dave Schlump.
Cody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) scored 15 points, while forwards Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) and Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) both added 12 points.
The Jayhawks will host St. Clair County CC on Friday at 7 p.m. in the first day of the two-day East-West Classic in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Men’s Hoops Beats Davenport JV 69-55
MCC sophomore forward Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) had a career game on Wednesday night, when he scored 19 points, blocked six shots and hauled in 14 rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 69-55 win over Davenport JV in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
The 6-7 forward also netted 11-of-14 free throws in his 29 minutes of play. Teammate Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) tallied 12 points and brought down 10 rebounds. MCC guard Kody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) netted 11 points and Steven Dean (Benton Harbor, MI/Covert) chipped in 10 points.
Now 2-0, the Jayhawks jumped to an 8-0 lead that opened to 13-2 after five-and-a-half minutes of action. MCC had a 35-22 halftime lead. Asa Wyers
(White Cloud, MI/White Cloud) drained a three-pointer that expanded MCC’s lead to 24 points at 46-22 with 14:27 left in the game. That lead stayed at 21 points as late as five minutes left when Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) sank his basket for a 65-44 lead.
From that point, the Jayhawks shooting went cold and the play became sloppy, allowing Davenport to outscore them 11-4 down the home stretch.
“What I am going to take away from this game is the first 30 minutes, when we extended the lead to 22 points,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “The learning curve for us is understanding that you continue to play hard and not let them back into the game. When you’re a young team, you feel like once you get the lead you can coast. That’s what we will be working on.”
The Jayhawks defense held Davenport shooters to just 26.5 percent from the floor, although MCC only hit 39.1 percent of its field goals.
Men’s Hoops Takes Opener 100-64 over Grace Bible JV
Six MCC basketball players scored in double figures as the Jayhawks cruised to a 100-64 victory over the Grace Bible College JVs in the 2011-12 season opener Wednesday night in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
Sophomore guard Kody Kleeves (Grand Rapids, MI/Comstock Park) paced the hosts’ offensive onslaught with 17 points. MCC’s 6-7 forward Matt Stoll (Kent City, MI/Kent City) netted 16 points, freshman point guard Stephen Ray, Jr. (Michigan City, IN/Washington) scored 13, sophomore guard Kulawnie Saunders (Minneapolis, MN/Millenium) had 11 and both Isiah Law (Grand Haven, MI/Grand Haven) and Rowmell Crawford (Muskegon Heights, MI/Muskegon Heights) chipped in 10 apiece.
MCC took a 13-11 lead on Ray’s field goal seven minutes into the game and never trailed again. That basket was part of a 26-4 Jayhawks run that gave the hosts a 39-14 margin with 8:20 remaining in the first half. MCC opened its widest margin – 20 points – of the half on a pair of Stoll free throws 2:46 before intermission. The Jayhawks took a 47-31 lead into the locker room.
Grace Bible, which never threatened MCC in the second half, was led by Cameron Cramer’s 18 points.
Saunders paced all Jayhawk rebounders with seven, while Kleeves had a team-high four assists. MCC shot 49.3 percent from the field and 63.9 percent from the line. Their defense contained the Tigers to just 29.3 percent from the floor.
“In game one, sometimes it’s hard but I thought we played really well as a team, said MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “We stressed that. Obviously, there’s lots of things that we need to work on…take more charges, make less fouls. But it was just a good first game. It kind of showed us what we need to work on.
“The best thing I liked is we started the process of establishing our identity. We talked before the game about establishing our identity – share the ball, take what’s there, play good, hard aggressive defense, and just not really care what the score is.”
“A lot of kids got into their first college game. The point guard is not an easy position to play for me, but I thought Stephen Ray coming in as a freshman out of Michigan City, Indiana, did pretty good. Also, Rowmell Crawford down low and Cody Kleeves played well.”
MCC returns to action next Wednesday at home when they face the Davenport JV team at 7:30 p.m.
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