HAWKS MEN’S BASKETBALL HAS FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AS THEY FALL IN CLOSE MATCHUP WITH NEO

OTTUMWA, Iowa – The Northeast Community College men's basketball team played in Game 1 of the Hy-Vee classic on the campus of Indian Hills Community College against Northern Oklahoma A&M College Friday. The Horsemen took the back-and-forth battle by a final score of 98-95.

The Hawks (5-6, 0-2 ICCAC) held the lead over the NJCAA Division I NEO for much of the night. The Horsemen had won their previous nine games and were receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I basketball poll entering the showdown. Northeast led 48-43 at intermission and led by as much as seven in the contest.

Amaire Perkins (Sanford, Fla.), Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Neb.), Emaniel Alexandre (Nassau, Bahamas), Collin Storr (Nassau, Bahamas) and Jared Lopez (Lincoln, Neb.) all scored over 10 points as the Hawks had one of their best offensive nights of the season.

Alexandre had three different huge 3-pointers in the final minutes of the ballgame, but they weren't quite enough as NEO snuck away with the victory.

STAT SHEET:

Amaire Perkins (Sanford, Fla.): 24 PTS, 5 STL

Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Neb.): 18 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST

Emaniel Alexandre (Nassau, Bahamas): 16 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST

Collin Storr (Nassau, Bahamas): 13 PTS, 11 REB

Jared Lopez (Lincoln, Neb.): 12 PTS

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Assistant men's basketball coach Junior Denis on the high point total from his roster tonight:

"Everyone played pretty hard tonight and that's what I like about them," Denis said. "They didn't give up at all."

Denis on refocusing for the quick turnaround:

"We have to be ready for tomorrow," Denis said. "Tonight is over. We can't really reflect on it anymore. Like I normally say to the guys, it's the next play."

UP NEXT:

Northeast will be back for Day 2 of the Hy-Vee Classic against Lake Region State College - ND at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow in Ottumwa, Iowa.

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