Eklund's 38 points not enough for Stars

By Michael Leek
Sports Editor

Despite a monster 38-point, 10-rebound double-double from freshman forward Jamison Eklund, the LCC men’s basketball team fell to Kellogg Community College, 108-102, on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at LCC.

After being down 18 points at halftime, the Stars made an excellent comeback in the second half. They cut the Bruins’ lead down to as little as two. But in the final 40 seconds, the Bruins made four clutch free throws to win the game.

Eklund scored his 38 points efficiently, shooting 75 percent from the field.

Freshman forward Zavier Thomason also had an effective scoring night for LCC with 23 points on 77 percent shooting from the field.

The Stars have added a new player to the lineup in the past few games: freshman forward Messiah Niang-Casey. Against the Bruins, he had seven points and pulled down five rebounds.

LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said his team started out in a zone against the Bruins because his roster is small and he wanted his team to stay out of foul trouble.

“We didn’t play it that well,” Ingram said. “A team that hasn’t shot the three-point well hit some shots.”

Ingram said the Stars’ offense is coming along well, but defensively the Stars have not been strong.

“You score 100 points a game you’re supposed to win those games,” Ingram said. “But you give the other team more than 100 points, and so defensively we just haven’t played well.”

Ingram said the new roster addition, Niang-Casey, has been playing well since he’s been back.

“Messiah has been a leader, even when he was working with us in the fall,” Ingram said. “He’s a leader on the floor and a leader on the bench.”

With the short-handed roster, Ingram said the team has to be able to mesh together and know what the offensive schemes are this late in the season.

“It’s a great opportunity (for our players),” Ingram said. “You know you’re going to play minutes every single night, but we have to focus a little better.

The Stars have six remaining conference games this season, and only two of those are at home.

Their next game will be on the road against Glen Oaks Community College on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The Stars look to finish this season off strong by “upping the defensive intensity and closing out games strong,” Ingram said.