By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
New Rochelle, N.Y.---Shaakir Lindsey (Teaneck/Teaneck, N.J.) tied his career-high with 30 points to lead the No. 8 Owens Community College men's basketball team to a 99-63 win over Community College of Rhode Island in the Monroe Classic consolation game tdoay at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
Lindsey, playing about 20 miles from his hometown, finished 12-for-17 from the field, including 6-for-9 from long distance, while adding eight assists and five steals - all team-highs.
Lindsey got things started in the first half with a steal on the game's first possession, which led to a fast break lay-up from Pete Firlik (Catholic Central/Grand Rapids, Mich.). Then, with the game tied at 5-all, Owens went on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good.
A 3-pointer from Firlik gave Owens its biggest lead of the half, 22, with 2:18 left before a Lindsey jumper made it 48-28 with under a minute remaining. CCRI's Marshall Nelson hit a lay-up with 22 seconds left to pull his team within 18 at half.
Lindsey scored 17 of his 30 points in the first half while Owens outscored CCRI 17-2 in points off turnovers.
Owens remained in control to start the second half as they produced an 11-4 run to push the lead to 25. The run was capped by back-to-back lay-ups from Lindsey.
From there on, Owens never led by fewer than 20 points as Cameron White (Bowsher/Toledo, Ohio) hit one of his two second half 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 30 with 9:59 left. Just over two minutes later, a pair of free throws from Austin Somerfield (Greenville/Greenville, Mich.) and a 3-pointer from Lindsey stretched the lead to 38.
A short time later, Justin Baker (Cathedral/Indianapolis, Ind.) hit a 3-pointer to give Owens its largest lead of the game at 41 with 7:20 left.
CCRI made a small run to trim the lead to as few as 31 down the stretch, but Owens capped the 36 point win with another 3-pointer from White with 1:24 left. With a chance at the century mark, Owens chose to dribble out the clock for their sixth win of the season, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Owens, in the second half alone, shot 8-for-14 from long distance, led by Lindsey and White (5-for-5 combined). They also shot 20-for-34 (58.8 percent) in the final 20 minutes compared to 14-for-36 (38.9 percent) for CCRI.
Aside from Lindsey, John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) added 16 points, seven rebounds (five offensive) and two assists. Somerfield had another solid game with 10 points , eight rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist. Firlik added 11 points and four rebounds. Darren Groves (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) had a team-high 11 rebounds.
Anthony Jernigan (14) and Malieke Young (12) were the lone two players in double figure scoring for CCRI.
Owens finished 40-for-83 (48.2 percent) from the field in the game, including a 14-for-34 (41.2 percent) from long distance. They attempted only nine free throws, making five of them.
Owens (6-2) is back in action on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. home game against Washtenaw Community College. CCRI, who came into the Monroe Classic undefeated at 5-0, dropped its second straight game.