By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Xavier Cochran (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) scored a game-high 26 points, and the Owens Community College men's basketball team buried a single game record-tying 17 three pointers to capture a 77-75 win over Cincinnati State Technical and Community College this afternoon.

Cincinnati State's point guard Justin Baker, who played for Owens last year, had a potential game-winning, half court shot bounce off the rim as time expired.

Over the course of the first half, Owens made 12-for-18 from 3-point range, and gradually increased its lead until halftime.

Both teams exchanged baskets over the first four minutes, which led to an 11-8 advantage for Cincinnati State. Ty'Rese Searles (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) responded with his team's third 3-pointer of the game, which spurred a 10-0 run that put Owens up seven with 13:53 left.

A few minutes later, Roy Hatchett Jr. (Glenville/Cleveland, Ohio) and Cochran each hit 3-pointers to give Owens a pair of nine point leads. Yet another 3-pointer, this one from Derrik Jamerson Jr. (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) pushed the lead to 11 with 3:07 left.

Down the stretch, Owens scored five of its final six field goals from long range. Hatchett buried his third 3-pointer of the half with 1:38 left for a 13 point lead. Then, after Cincinnati State's Cory Smith hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left, Owens inbounded the ball quickly, and Hatchett found Jamerson Jr. for a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Owens took a 48-35 lead into the break.

In the second half, Owens didn't produce as many 3-pointers, but instead made their final five 3-pointers in key moments.

Isiah Bostic's layup with 12:31 remaining in the game pulled Cincinnati State within two as the visitors opened the half on 19-8 run.

Brian Walker (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) responded with a 3-pointer for Owens, but Bostic's 3-point play made it a two-point game again. Jamerson Jr. then buried a long 3-pointer for a 62-57 lead. 

Moments later, at the midway point of the half, Baker made a 3-pointer out of a timeout to give Cincinnati State a 63-62 lead.

Cochran and Dae'Shawn Jackson (Springfield/Springfield, Ohio) then buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give Owens a 68-66 lead. Following a layup from Jackson, Cochran hit another 3-pointer as the lead jumped to five with just over five minutes left.

A layup from Searles with 3:48 left pushed the Owens lead to 77-70, but Cincinnati State scored the next five points, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Smith with 1:32 left. After each team exchanged turnovers, both teams exchanged missed field goals.

After pulling down a defensive rebound with seven seconds left, Cochran missed the front end of a bonus situation, which allowed the shot by Baker as time expired.

Cincinnati State, which only dressed six players, was led by Baker's 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Bostic added 17, Marlon Kordrostami had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Smith added 15. Brandon Trotter led all players with 10 rebounds.

For Owens, Cochran produced his game-high 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting, including a 6-for-9 finish from 3-point range. Jamerson Jr. added 14 points and eight rebounds, Searles had 12 points, and Hatchett Jr. finished with 11 points. Cochran also added eight rebounds to tie Jamerson Jr. for the team-high, while Jackson tied Baker for the game-high in assists with nine.

Overall, Owens finished 17-for-31 from 3-point range to tie the program's single game record set on Jan. 14, 2013 vs Washtenaw Community College. Their 54.8 percent finish from long range also set a new season best as a team.

Owens has now won six straight to improve its record to 12-9 overall and 4-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play. Cincinnati State, meanwhile, has lost three of five. They are 13-9 overall and 3-4 in OCCAC play.

Owens will be back in action on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. home tilt against Cuyahoga Community College. Cuyahoga defeated Owens 85-81 on Dec. 16.

Notes

Cochran has now scored at least 14 points in 10 straight games. He leads the team in scoring at 16.9 per contest this year, which has increased to 21.7 per game in conference play.

Jackson, a freshman point guard, reached at least eight assists for the third time in the past four games. He is averaging 7.5 per contest over that stretch and he is seventh in the conference in assists per game.