Men's Basketball Gets Past Cedar Valley in District Quarters, 85-76

SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT PAGE

MESQUITE, Texas – Dallas College Eastfield's third-seeded men's basketball team got by a gutty sixth-seeded Dallas College Cedar Valley, 85-76, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South Central District quarterfinals Tuesday night.

It was the fourth win over the Suns this season for the No. 9 nationally-ranked Harvester Bees, who will move on to Friday's 8 p.m. semifinals to meet second-seeded Dallas College Richland at Dallas College North Lake.

"Cedar Valley's a good team," first-year Eastfield coach Dexter Young said. "It's the playoffs. In the playoffs, anything happens. Everybody's 0-0, and they fight. They always fight. I knew they were a good team in the beginning of the year."

�� @Eastfieldsports MBB coach Dexter Young talks about the 85-76 win over @CedarValleySuns in the @NJCAABasketball DIII South Central District quarterfinals.#EastfieldHarvesterBees | #NJCAABasketball pic.twitter.com/cAskPe0Z6T

— Dallas College Athletics (@DallasCollAth) March 1, 2023

Eastfield (21-7) used its pressure defense to open up a double-digit lead early in the first half. But Cedar Valley (11-18) stayed the course, and chipped away at the deficit. Suns guard Marvin Galloway was fouled a desperation shot at the halftime buzzer, and sank three free throws to erase the Harvester Bees' lead and send the game into the break tied, 33-33.

The Harvester Bees, who entered the game leading the nation in scoring at 111 points per game, seesawed back and forth with the Suns for the better part of the second half before putting the game away late.

Eastfield's Tyler Jones finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. It was his third double-double of the season. Dwayne Reliford had 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Tylan Harris scored 14 points, and had five assists, two steals and a block. In his first game back since Jan. 28, Jacore Williams had 12 points, going 10-for-10 from the free throw line, four rebounds and two steals.

The Harvesters were 30 of 76 from the field for 39.5 percent. They went 7 of 34 from three-point range, and 18 of 21 at the free throw line. The Suns shot 26 of 65 from the field for 40 percent. They were 7 of 20 from the 3-point line, and 17 of 22 at the free throw line.

Alonnie Carter scored 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting, grabbed seven boards, and had four assists and two steals for Cedar Valley, which was coming off a win to close the regular season. Malik Conley went 6 of 11 from the floor to score 13 points, and pulled down six rebounds. Isaiah Brass, Isaiah Sobers and Kishon Kittrell each scored 11 points. Kittrell added seven rebounds, and Keelan Russell five assists. Jude Donovan had eight points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Eastfield outrebounded Cedar Valley, 41-36.

"Winners win," Young said. "They're fighters. I've been telling them since I watched them play, they fight."

Now the Harvester Bees turn their focus back to 11^th-ranked Richland, whom they beat on the road a week ago, 94-89.

"I want to get to the 'ship," Young said. "I want to play North Lake again. Everybody else I've beat. That's who I want to play."

North Lake will host the semifinals and finals Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 for a tournament pass for all games, $5 for adult single session of two games and $3 for students ages 6-18. Children under 6 are free. Dallas College students and employees with a current ID (must present at the gate) are free. Game programs are $2.

NJCAA DIII Men's Basketball South Central District

Quarterfinals

Tuesday at Dallas College Eastfield

Dallas College Eastfield 85, Dallas College Cedar Valley 76

Dallas College Mountain View 86, Dallas College Brookhaven 79

Semifinals

Friday at Dallas College North Lake

6 p.m. - #1 Dallas College North Lake (23-6) vs. #5 Dallas College Mountain View (18-12)

8 p.m. - #2 Dallas College Richland (14-10) vs. #3 Dallas College Eastfield (21-7)

Championship

Saturday at North Lake

5 p.m. - Semifinal winners