Top-Ranked Thunderducks Trip up No. 7 Blazers, Hold Commanding DAC Lead

HIGHLIGHTS 

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College Richland's top-ranked men's basketball team beat No. 7 Dallas College North Lake Wednesday to take a three-game lead in the Dallas Athletic Conference.

With five games to play in the regular season, the Thunderducks (17-6, 10-0 DAC) are in the driver's seat for a second consecutive league title.

"I told our team, 'We control our own destiny,'" Richland 12^th-year head coach Jon Havens said.

In a game the Thunderducks fell behind 19-6 early, the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III No. 1 team weathered the storm to run its win streak to 13 in a row. Richland outscored North Lake 56-38 in the second half.

Jase Tarver finished with 20 points, going 8 for 8 from the free throw line, 11 rebounds, three assists and a block. DJ Willis had 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers and all four free throws he attempted. Sean Edmondson had 10 of his 18 points in the second half, and grabbed 10 boards for the Thunderducks.

Jordan Edwards had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers (15-9, 7-3). Zach Thompson and Damiran Smith each scored 10. Thompson was 6 for 6 at the free throw line.

With 12:15 remaining in the game, Andrew Huntley hit a driving layup to put the Thunderducks ahead 59-53. North Lake's Ja'Den Stiggers drove down the middle of the paint, twisting up and under between two defenders for a basket to pull the Blazers within 59-57 at the 11:50 mark. A minute later, Stiggers sank two free throws to give North Lake a one-point lead to cap a 9-2 run.

With 8:16 to play, Smith hit a floating shot to keep the Blazers in front by one. Edwards spun in the lane for a bucket with 6:50 to go, breaking a 69-69 tie. Richland's Cedric Dent knocked down a jumper at the 2:30 mark to push the Thunderducks up 84-79. Willis, who had 12 points in the second half, sank two free throws with 1:14 on the clock to make it 86-81, and North Lake had no response the rest of the way.

Richland will host Dallas College Brookhaven (10-15, 4-6) at 1 p.m. Saturday to begin the final round of conference play.