By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Adrian, Mich.---Derrik Jamerson Jr. (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) produced a double-double, while Luke Mayer (Davidson/Hilliard, Ohio) had a season-high 18 points as the Owens Community College men's basketball team used a strong second half to take down Adrian College's JV team 96-67 on the road tonight. 

Game Summary

Jamerson and Ty'Rese Searles (Cornerstone/Pontiac, Mich.) scored 15 of the first 16 points for Owens from 3-point range. Jamerson opened the game with three consecutive 3-pointers, and Mayer had the other point via a free throw.

Despite the hot start offensively, Owens trailed 19-16 through nine minutes. Adrian's Jonathan Sanders then made a pair of free throws to extend the Adrian lead to four with 7:55 left and his teammate, Austin Bell, made a 3-pointer to push the Owens deficit to five just over four minutes later.

Following that, Mayer made three of four free throws, and Roy Hatchett Jr. (Glenville/Cleveland, Ohio) made a 3-pointer to complete a 6-0 run that gave Owens its first lead in eight minutes. Following a pair of free throws from Adrian's Jamel French, Jamiri Bennett (Maumee/Toledo, Ohio) scored on a fast break layup as Owens closed the half on another 6-0 run.

Mayer and Hatchett hit back-to-back jumpers to close the run and give Owens a 42-37 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Owens only made 2-for-10 from 3-point range, but finished 15-for-22 from inside the 3-point line and 18-for-23 from the foul line to outscore Adrian 54-30.

Four straight points from Hatchett pushed the Owens lead to eight with 16:13 left. Derek Reece Jr. (Springfield/Toledo, Ohio) added a jumper one minute later to give Owens its first double digit lead.

Rico Stafford (Lima Senior/Lima, Ohio) added four points to complete a 6-0 run as Owens took a 59-45 lead. Reece and Jamerson hit back-to-back 3-pointers a little later as Owens pushed its lead to 76-55.

Then, following a Jamel French layup for Adrian with 8:09 left, Owens held its opponent scoreless over the next three minutes while going on an 11-0 run. During the run, Stafford threw down a highlight reel dunk on a fast break via one of Hatchett's seven assists. Mayer would later score his team's final four points from the foul line. 

Leaders

Jamerson finished with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Mayer had a game-high 18 points along with eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal off the bench. In addition to Jamerson, all five Owens starters also scored in double figures.

Reece finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals, Stafford and Searles each had 13 points, and Hatchett had 11 points to go along with his seven assists.

Everyone scored at least two points for Owens, including Bennett, who had four assists off the bench over a season-high 15 minutes.

Adrian was led by French, who had 15 points. Kylynn Willis (12) and Keshaun Morris (10) also reached double figures, and Morris had a team-high seven rebounds. 

Next Up

Owens is now 7-3 overall. They will open conference play on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against No. 9 Cuyahoga Community College, who will enter the game undefeated at 12-0. The game, which is part of a doubleheader with the women starting at 5:30 p.m., will be broadcasted on BCSN.