MILES CITY -- The Miles Community College men's and women's basketball teams closed the home portions of their regular-season schedules with resounding wins over Dakota College-Bottineau on Thursday. Binta Salawu recorded a huge triple-double as the Pioneer women rolled to an 84-60 win, and the MCC men dished out 29 assists in a 105-64 thrashing of the Lumberjacks.
Miles Community College women 84, Dakota College-Bottineau 60
Binta Salawu piled up some huge numbers and got some solid backing from Claire Borot and the rest of the Miles Community College Lady Pioneers as they closed out the home portion of the season with an 84-60 win over Dakota College-Bottineau.
Salawu scored 31 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds in her final home game as a Lady Pioneer. Borot finished her home slate on a solid note as she hit for 27 points and five rebounds. The Lady Pioneers are now tied for the conference lead at 9-2 after league-leading Bismarck State lost at home to North Dakota State College of Science.
Olyvia Pachecho had a huge night on the boards with 15 rebounds as MCC dominated the glass 51-29, including 18 offensive rebounds. The Lady Pioneers also connected on 16 of 36 shots from the 3-point line in the lopsided win.
Next up is a trip to Williston, N.D. on Monday in the first of three road games in a seven-day stretch next week. MCC moves to 17-10 on the season and will be fighting to host the Region XIII tourney if it can muster three wins next week and see how Bismarck State responds to the loss.
Miles Community College men 105, Dakota College-Bottineau 64
The MCC Pioneer men's basketball team ended the home portion of its 2019-20 season with a resounding 105-64 win over Dakota College-Bottineau. The Pioneers (16-10 overall, 8-3 conference) had all 11 players score and have at least one assist on a night when the Pioneers had 29 assists and out-rebounded the Lumberjacks 42-26.
Favour Chukwukelu pumped in 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including a 6-of-7 performance from 3-point range, and Gedeon Buzangu added 19 points and six rebounds on the night. Deondre Northey had another excellent night with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Issac Abergut added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jayvon Lewis dished out seven assists. The Pioneers shot 60 percent for the game (37 of 62 from the floor and 12 of 26 on 3s) compared to 41 percent (24 of 58, 8 of 25) for Bottineau. Bottineau fell to 5-21 overall, 0-11 conference on the season.
The Pioneers' final three regular-season games are all on the road next week, starting with a matchup against Williston State in Williston, N.D. on Monday night.
