McHenry, MD – Sophomore guard Gavin Jackson scored a team-high 31 points Saturday night as the Garrett College men's basketball team finished a perfect opening weekend in the GC Tip-Off Classic with an impressive, 95-88 victory over visiting Hocking (OH) College.
"Hocking is one of the better wins we've had since I've been here," said fourth-year GC head coach Matt McCullough. "They've been to the national tournament each of the last three years. Coming off the way they played against Allegany on Friday night [100-79 win over the Trojans], a win like that is huge for us moving forward."
Laker freshman Carmello Myles – held to a single point in Friday night's season opener – responded with an 18-point, 18-rebound double-double against Hocking.
"Carmello came back strong and really helped us in that second game," said McCullough, noting Myles and some of the other GC freshmen needed to get past their "first-game jitters."
"The first night [Friday's 70-56 win over Bryant & Stratton College], we really relied on our upper classmen," explained McCullough. "It came down to them having that experience from playing last year and not being quite so nervous."
K'Shawn Scott was the third Laker in double figures against Hocking with 10 points. Three of his teammates – Nasir Coleman (10 assists), Maqui Olds (five rebounds), and Keyonta Johnson (four rebounds, two steals) – each contributed nine points.
Jackson also had a big game in Friday's opener, scoring a team-high 21 points. He finished the weekend 18-of-39 from the field and 10-of-11 from the line.
"Gavin plays with so much confidence this year compared to last year," said McCullough. "That shows you what a year of experience will do for you."
Scott (16 points, five rebounds) Stephen Robinson (13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists), and Coleman (11 points, eight assists, three steals) joined Jackson (four rebounds, four assists, four steals) in double figures against Bryant & Stratton.
Seven different Lakers scored at least nine points in a game over the two-game weekend set.
"We had a lot of contributions from a lot of guys on both nights," said McCullough. "Those were really team wins. I'm excited about the balance we saw."
The Lakers host Waynesburg University's junior varsity on Wednesday, November 6th at 6 p.m. and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College next Tuesday, November 12th at 7 p.m.
