PIONEERS FALL TO 18TH RANKED MACOMB

Macomb, MI -  

The Pioneers traveled to face the Macomb Monarchs in a pivotal MCCAA Eastern conference match-up Saturday afternoon.  The Delta men's basketball team had an opportunity to move into second place and knock off a ranked opponent Saturday afternoon.   The Pioneers got off to a hot start but the three point shooting of Macomb proved to be the difference in a 75-59 loss for the Delta men.            

The first five minutes were dominated by the Delta men as they started 5-7 from the floor.  Allante Wheeler hit a corner three, Virgil Walker had a put back, and Jonathan Swift added a driving lay-up.  The offensive execution combined with defensively intensity had the Pioneers ahead 11-3.   Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the next nine minutes proved to be their downfall.  Macomb went on a 20-0 run and held a 23-11 lead at the 6:30 mark of the first half.  A Manny Dosanjh three pointer ended a 0-11 shooting stretch for the Pioneers and got them back on track.  Two free throws by Allante Wheeler cut the Monarch lead to 26-20 at the 1:50 mark of the first half.  That would be as close as the Pioneers would get as Macomb finished the half on a 6-0 run and led 32-20 at the half.            

"We came out dictating the tempo and playing our brand of basketball on the defensive and offensive end of the court," said head coach Carlos McMath.  "We veered away from that, totally disregarded the game plan, and it cost us."     

Coming out of the locker room, Macomb continued their hot shooting and went on a 12-0 run to take a 54-30 lead.  A Virgil Walker offensive rebound and put back and a Jonathan Swift three point play started a run for the Pioneers but it ended up being too little too late.  In the end, the Pioneers couldn't get the stops needed to mount the comeback.          

The Pioneers were led by freshman center Virgil Walker.  He had 11 points and a game high 15 rebounds.  Allante Wheeler added 11 points.      

"This is definitely not the way we wanted to finish off the first half of the conference season," said McMath.  "Right now we are a .500 ball club and it is a direct reflection of how we are practicing and handling our preparation.  Going into the second half of the conference schedule we need to make a commitment to the game.  All the adjustments and game plans will be in place, we just need to execute."

The Delta Men's basketball team (8-8, 4-4) will begin the second half of the MCCAA Eastern conference season Saturday when they head up to Alpena Community College to face the Lumberjacks (0-12, 0-8).  In the first meeting between the Pioneers and the Lumberjacks, the Pioneers prevailed 112-68.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm.