LOPEZ NEARS DOUBLE-DOUBLE AS HAWKS MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS GAME TO NO. 8 KIRKWOOD

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Northeast Community College men's basketball team hit the road to Cedar Rapids, Iowa Saturday to take on with No. 8 Kirkwood Community College. The Eagles came out victorious in the matchup by a final score of 89-75.

The Hawks (5-4) had four different players in double figures as they got 14 points from Amaire Perkins (Sanford, Fla.), 14 and nine rebounds from Jared Lopez (Lincoln, Neb.), 11 points from Emaniel Alexandre (Nassau, Bahamas) and 11 points from Ben Hammond (Norfolk, Neb.). Northeast trailed most of the way but made a rally to cut the lead to just four with 12:18 to play after a layup from Lopez.

A layup from Jaden Strachan (Nassau, Bahamas) with 3:32 left in the showdown brought the Hawks to within five points of Kirkwood, but that was the closet they would get the rest of the night.

STAT SHEET:

Amaire Perkins (Sanford, Fla.): 14 PTS, 2 AST, 2 STL

Jared Lopez (Lincoln, Neb.): 14 PTS, 9 REB

Emaniel Alexandre (Nassau, Bahamas): 11 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST

Ben Hammond (Norfolk, Neb.): 11 PTS

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Assistant men's basketball coach Junior Denis on the fight tonight from his team:

"The guys really played hard until the end and my take is we're a really tough team to play," Denis said. "When we figure it out as a group, we're going to be pretty good."

Denis on what he wants to see from his team Wednesday at home:

"What we are really looking for is the guys to build off this road trip and get fuel for Wednesday," Denis said. "I thought we learned a lot as a group and that's only going to make us better in the future."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will be back home Wednesday to battle No. 14 Des Moines Area Community College at 7:30 Wednesday at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

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