By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Elyria, Ohio---Xavier Cochran (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) and Brian Walker (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) each produced a double-double to lead the Owens Community College men's basketball team to a hard fought 80-72 win over Lorain County Community College tonight.

With the win, Owens improved to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play. They will be back in action Saturday at home beginning at 3 p.m. against Columbus State Community College (10-3, 2-1 OCCAC).

Clinging to a one point lead with 7:07 remaining, Dilyn Good (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) hit a layup to start a 9-0 run. Walker followed Good's layup with a steal and a fast break layup, which was then followed by a pair of free throws from Cochran and a 3-pointer from Derrik Jamerson Jr. (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) to put Owens up 71-61 with 4:58 left.

Lorain County's Kevin Jenkins responded by scoring five straight as part of a 6-0 run, but Ty'Rese Searles (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) and Roy Hatchett Jr. (Glenville/Cleveland, Ohio) hit back-to-back layups and Owens made 5-for-6 from the foul line to seal the win.

Prior to the final seven minutes, the game was far from decided. Owens opened the game by scoring seven of the first eight points with five of those coming from Cochran. Lorain County answered with a 10-4 run to force the game's first tie with 13:38 left in the half.

Owens led 20-16 with 9:37 left following a layup from Walker, but a 13-0 run by Lorain County was capped by a 3-pointer from Kwevon Corn with 6:07 left. 

Walker ended the run with a right corner 3-pointer out of an inbounds play, followed by two more 3-pointers from Hatchett Jr. and Cochran, as well as a layup from Cochran to complete an 11-0 run and give Owens a 31-29 lead with 4:22 left.

Both teams struggled to score in the final few minutes, but Cochran hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left to give Owens a 35-34 lead at the break.

In the first half, Owens was helped by an 11-0 advantage in second chance points, although Lorain County's bench outscored Owens 18-12 over the first 20 minutes.

A back-and-forth second half saw neither team lead by more than three until a layup from Searles put Owens up 50-45 with 14:19 left. Jamerson Jr. then hit a 3-pointer with 11:16 left for a 58-53 lead, but Lorain County went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 60 over the next few minutes.

In the second half, Owens got five or more rebounds from four players - Cochran (7), Walker (6), Searles and Jackson (5 each).

Cochran led Owens with 28 points, a season-high 14 rebounds and three assists. He finished 9-for-17 from the field and 9-for-10 from the foul line. He scored 16 of the team's 35 points in the first half.

Walker, meanwhile, scored 10 points in the second half and finished with a season-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. He went 6-for-11 from the field and 5-for-7 from the foul line. His first half 3-pointer was his first of the season.

Aside from that duo, Searles added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jamerson Jr. added six points and nine rebounds.

Lorain County (9-6 overall, 0-3 OCCAC) was led by Jenkins, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds. Corn chipped in 13 points, Ouddi Hamdan had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Wesley Harris added 10 points.

Notes

Owens picked up the win despite shooting a season worst 56.3 percent from the foul line (18-for-32).

Cochran's 28 point total was his second highest scoring output of the season behind his 34 point game Dec. 13 at Jamestown Community College. He has scored at least 24 points in three of the team's past five games, and he had his fifth 20 plus point game of the season.

Furthermore, Cochran picked up his second double double in the past three games and reached a season-high in rebounds.

Walker's double digit scoring game was his third of the season and first since Nov. 8 against Wayne County. His 11 rebounds was one off his season-high, which he produced one Nov. 3 against Washtenaw Community College.

Searles reached double digits in scoring for the 12th time in 17 games this year. He has also done so in 11 of the past 12 games.