GOCC men open conference play with win

CENTREVILLE — A well-rounded performance by the Glen Oaks Community College men's basketball team Saturday night at home produced an 86-68 victory over Lansing to kick off the MCCAA Western Conference slate. 

Sophomore Darrius Roach turned in a team-high 24 points and 5-foot-11 freshman point guard Will Jamison capped a 22-point night with a dunk in the final minutes to lead the Vikings offensively. Freshman Akin Smith also reached double figures with 12 points. 

Glen Oaks shot 50 percent from the field and outscored the Stars 16-7 at the free throw line. The Vikings owned the glass, out-rebounding Lansing 48-27. Smith was responsible for 10 boards and both Nate Keil and Roach pulled down nine. 

With the game tied at 32-32, freshmen Mike Phillips and Taurus Baugh both hit a pair of foul shots before Roach knocked down a shot for a six-point advantage. Keil added a free throw and a field goal, then a swift spin move by Roach helped the Vikings get to intermission with a 43-36 lead. 

Jamison went on to score 14 points in the second half. He ended the night with three 3-pointers. Roach scored 10 of his points over the final 20 minutes as GOCC continued to hold the nation's top scorer from doing a ton of damage. 

Freshman guard Zander Woodruff entered the game averaging 32.1 points per game for Lansing, which leads the country in NJCAA Division II. Roach and Co. limited Woodruff to 25 points — his third-lowest total of the season. 

Keil and Moore both finished with nine points, Baugh added six and Phillips finished with four for Glen Oaks, which improved to 8-7 overall and 1-0 in league play. 

The Vikings take on Marian University's Ancilla College Wednesday, Jan. 15 at home at 7:30 p.m.