Delta College Men's Basketball Falls to Mott Community College in Tough Road Game

Delta College's men's basketball team opened their season with a challenging road game at Mott Community College, ultimately falling 89-66 in a hard-fought matchup. Despite a spirited effort, the Pioneers were unable to close the gap on a strong Mott team, who capitalized on efficient shooting and rebounding to secure the victory.

The Pioneers trailed 48-32 at the half, with Mott displaying a consistent offense led by reserve player Miles Beard, who scored an impressive 33 points off the bench, including six three-pointers. Mott shot 41.3% from the field, with notable performances from Kimari Barden, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Keyonta Menifield, who added 13 points.

Delta's offensive push was led by guard Amari Terry, who came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field. Fellow guard DaShawn Booker also contributed 12 points in 24 minutes, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court. However, Delta struggled with efficiency, shooting just 36.4% overall and 23.8% from beyond the arc.

"We came out with good energy, but Mott's physicality on the boards and accuracy from the three-point line were tough to overcome," said Delta's head coach. "This is an early-season test, and we'll learn from this to come back stronger."

In the paint, Jaxon Humphrey led Delta's rebounding efforts with six boards, while Nathan Gerwolls added seven rebounds and three points. Despite this, Mott held a 47-40 advantage on the boards, leveraging second-chance opportunities throughout the game.

Mott's high free-throw accuracy (85.7%) and Delta's 17 turnovers further contributed to the game's outcome. Delta was also hindered by a technical foul on forward Jaden Carthan in the second half, limiting their comeback potential.

Delta will look to regroup as they prepare for their home opener next week, where they'll aim to turn early lessons into results.