Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Central CC upsets top seed at NJCAA national tourney

DANVILLE, Ill. — Unseeded Central Community College upset top-seed Mott Community College 67-61 Tuesday in the first round of the NJCAA Division II men’s national basketball tournament.

Central (20-13) of Columbus, Neb., advanced to the national tournament with an 81-75 victory over Gogebic Community College on March 10.

Mott (29-4) led 29-27 at halftime and the game was tied at 54-54 with more than six minutes left. Just like Central’s game against GCC, the lead changed hands multiple times. It was tied at 61-61 with two minutes left.

Central pulled ahead by three points with less than a minute left and Mott was forced to foul. Central made free throws to advance to play Owens Community College today in a quarterfinal.

James Spencer led Central with 21 points and he grabbed 11 rebounds. Riak Bol had 11 points and 11 boards, David Plain 11 points and five assists and LaRell Blackstone 11 points and five rebounds.