By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Charles Penn III (Macomb Dakota/Detroit, Mich.) produced his first double-double since Nov. 18, but the Owens Community College men's basketball team couldn't overcome a nine-point halftime deficit in a 70-67 loss to Cuyahoga Community College at home on Wednesday.
With the loss, Owens had its six game winning streak snapped. They are now 12-10 overall and 4-3 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play. Cuyahoga is 13-10 overall and 4-4 in OCCAC play.
In the final four minutes, Owens pulled within one point on five occasions, including a 68-67 deficit following a layup from Dae'Shawn Jackson (Springfield/Springfield, Ohio) with 16 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Cuyahoga threw the ball away and gave Owens a chance for the game-winning shot.
However, a Ty'Rese Searles (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) pass was intercepted after he drove the lane. Cuyahoga followed with a pair of free throws with two seconds left for a three point lead. Jackson then missed a desperation 3-point field goal attempt at the buzzer.
In the first half, Cuyahoga scored the game's first points and eventually pushed its lead to 13 with 8:55 left.
Xavier Cochran (Huron/Ypsilanti, Mich.) then started a 12-2 run Owens run by converting three straight free throws after being fouled on a 3-point field goal attempt. Andre Foster (Trotwood-Madison/Dayton, Ohio) followed with five straight points before Penn III and Jackson each made a pair of free throws to pull Owens within 28-25 with 4:46 left.
Cuyahoga, however, closed the half on a 9-3 run and led 37-28 at halftime. In the first 20 minutes, Cuyahoga outscored Owens in the paint (18-8) and off turnovers (12-3). Owens did hold a 5-0 advantage in second chance points, though.
Cochran and Derrik Jamerson Jr. (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) each hit jumpers to open the seecond half as Owens opened on a 12-6 run. Then, with 11:30 remaining, Jamerson Jr. hit the first of back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers. The first one tied the game, the second one gave Owens its first lead of the game and the third one put Owens up one, once again, with 10:31 left.
Cuyahoga responded with a 7-0 run, but Owens wouldn't go away. Cochran's 3-pointer with 3:30 left pulled Owens within one. The teams then exchanged baskets until a pair of free throws put Cuyahoga up 68-65 with 23 seconds left. That's when Jackson's layup spurred the game's final few plays.
In the second half, Owens rebounded to outscore Cuyahoga 13-5 off turnovers and managed a 12-12 tie in paint points.
Penn III, who produced 20 points and 14 rebounds on Nov. 18 vs Northwood University JV, notched his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. He added six blocks and two assists.
Jamerson led Owens with 17 points and finished 5-for-10 from 3-point range, while Jackson and Cochran finished with 10 points apiece. Jackson led Owens with five assists, too.
Cuyahoga's Kash Blackwell led all scorers with 23 points, while adding eight rebounds. Rico Jones Jr. chipped in 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
With the win, Cuyahoga finished the regular season sweep of Owens.
Owens will be back in action this coming Wednesday at home against Lorain County Community College at 7:30 p.m. Both games of that night's doubleheader will be broadcasted by BCSN. Owens defeated Lorain County 80-72 on the road Jan. 6.