• Freshman Brent Taylor scores 12 points in 71-68 win over Moraine Valley
• Sophomore Rylan Smith has 18 points in 76-67 win over Spoon River
• Seventh-ranked Bears improve to 4-0 for the season

Freshman Brent Taylor of Flossmoor, Ill., scored 12 points and freshman Shelton Colwell, Jr., of Newark, N.J., added 10 as the DMACC men's basketball team handed Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) a 71-68 loss on the first day of the DMACC Classic November 7 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

Balanced scoring paved the way to the win with sophomore Rylan Smith of Lincoln, Neb., getting nine points, sophomore Kaden Tate of Pearland, Texas and freshman Kavon Phillips of Davenport coming away with eight points apiece and freshmen Hunter Gawron of Skokie, Ill., and Kiki Deng of Des Moines scoring seven points apiece.

With the win, DMACC, ranked seventh in the Division II preseason poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), stayed unbeaten at 3-0.

The Bears led 40-29 at halftime and held off a late threat from Cyclones in getting the victory. They shot 40 percent from the field, hitting 20 of 50 field goal attempts, including going 5-of-20 from three-point range. DMACC was 26-of-42 from the free throw line.

MVCC, led by Ali Oralkan's 15 points, made 20 of 52 field goal attempts, including 5-of-22 from three-point range. The Cyclones were 23-of-32 from the free throw line.

Phillips had eight rebounds to lead the Bears to a 35-24 advantage on the boards. Smith had a team-high six assists and Taylor, Tate and freshman Malcolm Bragg of Newark, N.J., led DMACC in steals with two apiece.

Smith's 18 points, 15 from Taylor and 11 from Tate lifted DMACC to a 76-67 win over Spoon River Community College (SRCC) on the second day of the tournament Nov. 8 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

Freshman Landen Norris of Knoxville scored nine points and Gawron added seven as the Bears pushed their winning streak to four consecutive games.

DMACC, which owned a 43-34 halftime lead, shot 39 percent from the field with 24 field goals from 62 attempts. The Bears were 5-of-25 from three-point range and 23-of-33 at the free throw line.

SRCC, led by Ethan Nsiona's 18 points, was 22-of-49 from the field for 49 percent. The Snappers made 11 of 30 shots from beyond the arc and were 12-of-18 from the free throw line.

Tate's 10 rebounds gave him a double-double and helped the Bears to a 37-26 advantage in rebounding. Taylor led the Bears in assists with three and he and Deng topped DMACC in steals with three apiece.

The DMACC men's basketball team will host another session of the DMACC Classic Nov. 14 and 15 inside the DMACC gymnasium. The Bears will play Community Christian (Mich.) College on Nov. 14 and will face Edison State Community College (ESCC) on Nov. 15.