MOORE SETS NEW CAREER-HIGH IN POINTS AS NO. 9 ELLSWORTH TOPS NORTHEAST

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College men's basketball team welcomed No. 9 Ellsworth Community College to the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk Wednesday night for another conference showdown. The Panthers topped the Hawks by a final score of 115-95 in a contest that was closer than the scoreboard showed most of the way.

Northeast (5-9, 1-6 ICCAC) fell behind by 20 points at the end of the first half but were able to cut that lead to just four points five minutes into the second half. Kamari Moore (Norfolk, Neb.) set a new career-high in points as he tallied 24 on the night. Vincent Garrett (Lincoln, Neb.) with 17, Ben Hammond (Norfolk, Neb.) with 14, Bryson Faines (Lincoln, Neb.) with 10 and Jacob Martin (Omaha, Neb.) with 10 points all were in double figures as the Hawks were able to have one of their best offensive outputs of the season.

STAT SHEET:

Kamari Moore (Norfolk, Neb.): 24 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST. STL

Vincent Garrett (Lincoln, Neb.): 17 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, STL

Ben Hammond (Norfolk, Neb.): 14 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, STL

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Men's Basketball Coach Josh Clark on his team cutting into the big Ellsworth lead to stick right with the Panthers:

"At halftime we always talk about wanting to start fast," Clark said. "We had a 19-5 scoring margin within those first five minutes of the second half. We cut the lead to four. We just exuded so much energy to get us back into it. They are a good team. We talked at halftime that we were not there to lay down. We responded and I'm proud of the way our guys fought back. We gave ourselves a chance with 12 minutes to go."

Clark on facing a squad next from just up the road in Sioux City, Iowa:

"Our guys know a lot of their guys." Clark said. "There is some rivalry there. We'll be ready to play. We need a win. We need to put together a complete game. I don't want them to forget what winning feels like. We'll have them ready to go on Saturday."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will battle Western Iowa Tech Community College at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

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