WAHPETON, N.D.-The North Dakota State College of Science men's basketball team's bid to reach a national tournament fell short Wednesday with a 71-68 loss to Indian Hills Community College of Ottumwa, Iowa.
Indian Hills, which got 19 points from Chris McNeal, won the national qualifier game at Ed Werre Arena and will take a 29-4 record to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I national tournament to be held March 20-25 in Hutchinson, Kan.
Science, whose season ends with a 31-2 record, got 21 points from James Batemon III, 15 points from Jake Johnson and 11 points from Gach Gach.
IH (29-4 overall): McNeal 5-15 4-4 19, Wormley 1-3 2-2 4, Maitre 4-11 2-2 12, Ukaegbu 1-1 1-3 3, Aurrecoechea 7-14 2-7 16, Williams 1-5 2-2 4, Hansbrough 0-1 2-2 2, Harris 2-2 1-1 5, Allen 2-4 0-0 6. Totals: 23-56 (FG), 16-23 (FT).
NDSCS (31-2): Nelson 3-9 1-2 9, Newbern Jr. 1-8 0-0 2, Batemon III 8-15 5-10 21, Bach 3-9 3-3 11, Johnson 6-15 2-4 15, Kane 1-5 0-0 3, Turner III 0-5 0-0 0, Givens 1-1 0-0 3, Armstrong 1-1 2-2 4. Totals: 24-68 (FG), 13-21 (FT).
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Halftime: IH 45, NDSCS 32. Total fouls: IH 22, NDSCS 20. Fouled out: Ukaegbu, Newbern Jr. Rebounds: IH 46 (Aurrecoechea 13), NDSCS 43 (Newbern Jr. 10, Batemon III 9). Assists: IH 13 (Wormley 6), NDSCS 15 (Nelson 4). Steals: IH 6 (Wormley 2, Williams 2), NDSCS 3 (Nelson 1, Batemon III 1, Kane 1). Turnovers: IH 12 (Ukaegbu 3), NDSCS 8 (Batemon III 5).
