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Pioneers Lose Another Close Game

Pioneers Lose Another Close Game
Posted: Feb 07, 2023

Pioneers 84... United Tribes 86

The MCC Pioneers battled again but let another double digit 2nd half lead wilt away and the United Tribes Thunderbirds escaped with an 86-84 win Monday night in Bismarck, ND. 

Jayden Yankton (6'1 Freshman) converted a 3-point play with :28 remaining to give the Thunderbirds a 85-84 lead and Sylvester Union (5'10 Sophomore) hit 1-2 free throws before the Pioneers Denzel Kabasele (6'3 Sophomore) was knocked to the floor on a game tying drive and time ran out did not as United Tribes gained a MonDak Conference victory. MCC led 41-34 at the half before stretching that lead to 14 points. 

The Pioneers led 60-46 before the T-Birds came alive hitting six 3-pointers over the final 10 minutes in the win. 6 T-Birds scored in double figures led by Jace Archambault (6'1 Sophomore) with 16 points (5-11 FG, 2-6 3's, 4-4 FT) while Tristan Davis (6'1 Sophomore) and Cayden Redfield each added 14 points. Davis (5-11 FG, 3-6 3's, 1-2 FT) and Redfield (5-13 FG, 0-1 3's, 4-4 FT) combined for 15 2nd half points. Jayden Yankton added 13 (5-9 FG, 2-5 3's, 1-1 FT), Sylvester Union had 12 (5-14 FG, 1-3 3's, 1-2 FT), and DK Middleton (6'3 Sophomore) came up with 11 points (3-8 FG, 2-4 3's, 3-4 FT) and 9 assists for the T-Birds. 

MCC was led by Denzel Kabasele with 24 points (10-16 FG, 4-7 3's) and 8 rebounds while Blessing Adesipe (6'6 Sophomore) added 21 points (10-23 FG, 1-8 3's) and 11 rebounds. Payton Kokot (6'3 Freshman) had 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-6 3's), 6 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Pioneers lost by 2 points for the 3rd time in the last 5 games. 

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers shot 36-74 (49%) from the field and 7-23 (30%) from the 3-point line. They converted all 5 of their free throws. 
  • The T-Birds shot 30-72 (42%) from the field and 11-29 (38%) from 3-point line. They shot 15-21 from the free throw line. 
  • The T-Birds were whistled for only 9 fouls in the game and the Pioneers had 15. 
  • MCC outrebounded the UTTC 46-37. MCC had 15 offensive boards and UTTC had 14.
  • MCC had 22 turnovers and the T-Birds had 18. 
  • There were 5 ties and 6 lead changes in the game. 

United Tribes won their 7th game in a row and moved to 12-4 in MonDak Conference play and 18-6 overall. MCC fell to 3-13 in league play and 4-21 overall. MCC hosts Dakota College at Bottineau on Sunday, February 12 at 1:00 PM. The Pioneers will be hooping for Kyler Venable that night and proceeds from the game will go towards Kyler's medical fund.