Box Score DODGE CITY, Kansas: Dodge City men's basketball (5-1) took their first loss of the 2014-15 season after falling 70-68 to North Platte Community College at home in the Civic Center.
The Conqs won the first half 41-36 after hitting an impressive 54.8 percent from the field and 55.6 from long range, outshooting the Knights in both categories. North Platte took the second half 34-27 to gain the advantage on the day.
EJ Eaves led the Conqs with 19 points on the night after hitting 7-10 (70.0%) from the field, 2-2 from long distance and 3-4 from the free throw line. He also collected two assists, one steal and three rebounds for Dodge.
Ameer Jackson went 6-13 from the field, 2-3 from three-point range and 2-2 from the stripe for 16 points while owning two assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Jaylen Tucker led DC3 with seven rebounds while also owning six points, one assist and one block.
George Brock led with three steals and five assists as well while
LaDamion Keys and
Brett O'Neil owned eight points apiece.
DC3 started the game with a 10-3 lead over the opposition, but NPCC came back at the 10:00 minute mark to make it a 21-21 ball game. The score went back-and-forth throughout the rest of the half, with the Conqs owning it with the five-point advantage.
The second half was close from start to finish with the Conqs posting 43.5 percent from the field and a staggering 66.7 from three-point range, but an impressive output by the Knights' offensive and costly turnovers edged NPCC over the DC3.
Dodge gained a 14-point lead with 13:02 on the clock, but the opposition was quick to work back into the game yet again, going up with a one-point lead at the six-minute mark, but dropping down yet again to the home team.
With 2:11 on the clock, the Knights drained a three-pointer to go up by one and a few turnovers by each side put the possession with the visiting team with13 seconds left at the charity stripe.
North Platte missed both attempts, keeping the Conqs down only one and DC3 called a time out to set up a play with nine seconds left.
The ball was inbounded to Conq
EJ Eaves who put a shot up with three seconds left to play. The ball did not stay true, but Eaves was fouled on the attempt and went to the line to shoot two.
Despite a lower (50.0) DC3 free throw percentage, Eaves drained both, giving the Conqs a 1-0 lead with the seconds ticking down.
NPCC inbounded the ball and tossed it all the way down court to Marco Pascolo a Udine, Italy transplant that was shooting 100 percent on the night (7-7 FG, 4-4 3-pt). Pascolo sank a three despite hands in his face to edge out the Conqs by two.
Ameer Jackson returned the ball and posted a last minute field goal in attempts to help DC3 remain undefeated, but was less than inches off.
In the second half alone, the opposition posted 16 points off Conq turnovers and capitalize with 13-points on second chances compared to Dodge's eight on turnovers and four on second chance points.
Dodge men's basketball will return to the Civic Center this Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. on both days to compete in the Pizza Hut Classic hosted by Dodge City Athletics and Pizza Hut.
