PCC Tops Dakota Tech in NJCAA Basketball Tourney

DANVILLE (Ill.)—Reginald Clark scored 14 points to lead five PCC Bulldogs in double figures scoring as Pitt cruised by Dakota County Technical College (Minn.), 77-66, in today’s consolation bracket action of the NJCAA Div. II Basketball Championship Tournament.

PCC (24-9) jumped out to a 7-0 lead within the first two minutes of play and never trailed in topping the Blue Knights. The largest lead for the Bulldogs, who were up 37-26 at halftime, came at the 10:49 mark of the second half, when a Rujon Walters basket made it 58-35.

Rebounding and free throws played a significant role in today’s outcome. Pitt went 22-for-36 from the foul line compared to Dakota Tech’s 9-for-23 effort, and the Bulldogs outdueled DCTC on the glass by a 51-30 margin. Clark led the way with 17 boards, including nine offensive.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well from the field and both committed numerous turnovers, but PCC bettered Dakota Tech in second-chance scoring opportunities (16-11), points off turnovers (19-15) and points in the paint (40-26).

Bench scoring was decidedly in Pitt’s favor. In addition to 12 points from Walters, reserve big man Rovel Ray tossed in 12 points and freshman guard Matisse Edwards added 10 more, as the PCC bench outscored Blue Knights reserves, 42-13.

Damar Sutton finished with 11 points for Pitt, who will face Pima Community College (Ariz.) tomorrow at 12 p.m. (EDT) at the Mary Miller Center. The third-seeded Aztecs beat St. Clair County Community College (Mich.) earlier today, 93-75.

03/21/2019