The Grand Rapids Community College men’s basketball team ended their three-game skid against Jackson College on Wednesday, Nov. 15, in comeback fashion winning 74-71.
In the first few minutes of the game, both teams struggled to make shots and get ahead of one another. Four minutes into the game, the score was tied at 4-4.
Sophomore guard Darrell Belcher started to heat up as he nailed a 3-pointer while also making a pair of free throws. However, there was another dry spot for both teams as they each went three minutes without any points.
Turnovers were starting to add up for GRCC while their defense continued to get stops.
The Jets went on a short 9-0 run to get their lead up to seven points but the Raiders did not go away. Sophomore guard Jovante Jones provided much needed scoring for GRCC as he nailed a pair of free throws while making another shot.
In the final minutes of the half and after a Jet timeout, Jackson went on a 6-0 run to finish with a 33-25 lead.
The Raiders shot an abysmal 19.5% from the field and 6.7% from the three but still remained in the game due to their improved defense.
GRCC came out in the second half with an entirely new mentality on offense and it showed as they went on an 8-0 run in the first three minutes to force a Jackson timeout. Sophomore guards Spencer Willman and Joe Francis were scoring at will from the free-throw line and behind the 3-point arc.
Francis continued to make important shots for the Raiders as he scored five points in a row to extend the lead. Sophomore forward Seth Schuitema made an impact in the scoring department as he made an and one shot.
GRCC jumped to their biggest lead of the game, 52-41, after a Dominic McRoberts 3-pointer. They continued to add to their lead as sophomore Tristan McRoberts nailed a few shots which improved the lead to 13 points with under eight minutes to go.
However, the Raiders went on a cold streak during the worst time possible which allowed the Jets right back into the game. Belcher and Francis were the driving force behind the Raiders maintaining their lead. As the final seconds came, freshman J.D. DeGroot made one free throw and then got an offensive rebound and putback to seal the victory for the Raiders.
GRCC improves to 4-3 on the season and returns home for their second home game of the season. The Raiders face Kellogg Community College on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ford Fieldhouse.
