By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Three players scored in double figures to lead the No. 16 Owens Community College men's basketball team to a 71-61 win over Wayne County Community College in the finale of the Owens Tip Off Classic in the Student Health and Activities Center (SHAC) today.
In the first half, Charles Penn III (Macomb Dakota/Detroit, Mich.) shot 5-for-10 from the field en route to 11 points and five rebounds. Along with Brian Walker (Ann Arbor Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.), the duo helped Owens turn a one point deficit into a nine point lead over a five minute stretch late in the half.
Penn III and Walker scored seven points during the 12-2 run and combined for the final three points of the half to give Owens a 34-26 lead.
Walker kept up his strong play by converting a couple chances in the paint early in the second half to give Owens a 47-35 lead with 15:06 left. Wayne County chipped away, though, and eventually pulled within four on a Dorea Wilson jumper with 10:04 left.
Three minutes later, an Ericallen Hayes jumper pulled Wayne County within one, and a Marice Wright jumper with 5:43 left tied the game at 56-all.
At that point, Owens got a big 3-pointer from Derrik Jamerson Jr. (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.), followed by a pair of three throws from Tony Stallworth (Chandler Park Academy/Detroit, Mich.) to give the home team a 61-56 lead.
Wayne County's Avery Williams answered back with a 3-pointer to make it a two point Owens lead, but Stallworth hit a layup and Jamerson converted a pair of free throws to stretch the lead up to six with 3:23 left.
Xavier Cochran (Ann Arbor Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) and Ty'Rese Searles (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) each combined for three points over the final minute to seal the game. Four of those points came from the foul line.
Despite a 2-for-10 finish from the 3-point line in the first half, Wayne County wasn't deterred and continued shooting. However, they went 3-for-19 in the second half and finished just 5-for-29 from long range.
Owens took advantage and attacked the basket. In the second half alone, Owens made 11-for-15 from the line, while Wayne County didn't even attempt a free throw. Furthermore, Owens finished 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from the field in the final half and held a 26-18 advantage in rebounding to help pull out the win.
Walker finished with a team-high 14 points, along with seven rebounds. He was 6-for-9 from the field. Penn III finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Cochran totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists off the bench. Nine of the 10 players in the Owens lineup scored at least two points.
Wayne County was led by Williams, who finished with 14 points. Wilson added 12 and Jalen Hairston had 10.
Owens evened out its record at 2-2 overall. They travel to Wabash, Ill. for the Wabash Valley Warrior Classic next weekend. On Saturday, they play Southeastern Illinois College before battling host school Wabash Valley College on Sunday. The team returns home on Nov. 18 against Northwood University JV.
Wayne County fell to 0-2 this year with the loss. This weekend marked the beginning of their regular season.