Commodores Crush Westmoreland Wolfpack, 98-76

December 20, 2023 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team defeated Westmoreland County Community College Wednesday night, 98-76.  Four Commodores scored in double figures as they took an eight point lead into halftime and extended it to as many as 31 in the second half.

Top Commodores

Austin Copen (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands HS) – 24 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Deonte Benejan (Queens, N.Y./Lorain HS) – 22 points, 5 assists, 4 steals

Jayden Maxwell (Chicago, Ill./Buchtel CLC) – 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

Willie Powell Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio/Bedford HS) – 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals

Recap

Westmoreland connected on their first two attempts from deep to take a six point lead in the first 96 seconds of the contest but the Commodores came back thanks to the scoring of Jayden Maxwell and Deonte Benejan, both of who notched double figures in the first half. 

Trailing by three points with just 90 seconds left in the first, the Commodores scored 11 straight points to take a 47-39 lead at the break.  Willie Powell Jr. found Jayden Maxwell for a three pointer to tie the contest at 39.  Tiyorne Coleman stole the ball on the Wolfpack's next possession and fed Benejan on the fast break to give LCCC the lead. Powell Jr. capped off the run with an assist on Austin Copen's three pointer with 14 seconds left.

The second half saw the Commodores use a 12-0 run to keep their lead in double digits against the undersized Wolfpack. Building a 20-point by the 10 minute mark, LCCC cruised to victory for their fourth win of the season, 98-76.

Notes

• Four Commodores scored in double figures (Benejan, Maxwell, Copen, and Powell Jr.)
• Maxwell had his third double-digit rebounding game of the season, tying a career-high with 14
• Abdulaziz Sesay had his second double-digit rebounding game in the last three contests with 12
• LCCC shot 40% from the field and converted a season-high 10 3-point baskets

Next Up

LCCC is off until after the holidays when they host Clark State Community College inside the Ewing Activities Center Gymnasium on Saturday, January 6, 2023 at 1 p.m.  LCCC defeated Clark State on the road on December 9, 2023, 104-95.