Recap: Turnovers Strike Again As Men Fall To LCCC

BLUE BELL, Pa. - Kevin Woods led four Mustangs in double figures, but 28 turnovers by the home team were the difference as Montgomery fell 95-80 to Luzerne County Community College in Region XIX play Thursday evening.

Trailing 52-36, the Mustangs opened the second half on an  11-2 run to pull within seven. The Trailblazers, however, kept their composure and made their shots down the stretch.

Luzerne placed five players in double figures as the Trailblazers shot over 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range in a game they led by as many as 23 points.

"Luzerne outplayed us in every facet of the game tonight," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Denny Surovec.

The loss dropped Surovec's team to 2-4 overall and in Region XIX, while evening its EPAC record at 2-2.

Woods' 23 points led all scorers as the second-year player hit on 8 of 11 from the floor, including 7 of 12 from the free-throw line. Fellow second-year player Nicko Balis finished with 19 points, including 5 of 9 from three-point range.

Jalen McDonald pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Montgomery, while Anthony Patterson and Jalil Shafi added 7 boards apiece to go along with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

The Mustangs finished the contest 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc. The team did convert 60 percent from the foul line.

But the key stat was turnovers. Luzerne had 17 compared to the Mustangs' 28.

"We continue to turn the ball over too much," Surovec said. "We need to regroup and make some changes before the season gets away from us."

The men's team is back on the hardwood Tuesday when it visits the Community College of Philadelphia in a 8 pm tip-off vs. the Colonials.

- By Bob Kent, Sports Information Director