The 8th ranked North Central Missouri College men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with Highland Community College (KS) on Tuesday night in the Ketcham Community Center, falling just short in an 86-82 home opener despite a strong all-around offensive effort from multiple Pirates.
Sophomore Camden Bennett paced NCMC with a game-high 25 points, connecting on 6-of-12 shots from the field and hitting three triples while going 10-for-13 at the free-throw line. Bennett was a steady presence throughout the night, delivering clutch scoring that kept the Pirates in striking distance.
Fellow starter Deng Gak turned in another standout performance, recording 22 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Gak's inside presence and efficiency around the rim helped NCMC maintain balance against Highland's size.
James Porter III also made a big impact, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbing six rebounds. Porter's consistency in the paint gave the Pirates another reliable scoring option.
Camden Brown added nine points, while Kalen Streit provided an energetic boost off the bench with five points and five rebounds in 24 minutes. Talan Holt contributed three points, knocking down a key three-pointer late in the game.
As a team, the Pirates shot 47.1% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc, while also knocking down 25 of 34 free-throw attempts (73.5%).
Despite the loss, NCMC showed poise and offensive efficiency throughout the contest. The Pirates will look to build on the performance as they continue their early-season stretch of games. Next up will be a road tilt Friday against Iowa Central CC in Fort Dodge, IA.
