Thunderducks Finish 3rd at NJCAA DIII Championships

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

HERKIMER, N.Y. – Dallas College Richland men's basketball team beat Minnesota State Community & Technical College 86-69 Saturday in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III consolation third place game.

The Thunderducks (23-12) finished third for the second time since 2019.

Barack Holland scored 21 points, and grabbed nine rebounds as Richland controlled both halves on the way to wrapping up the consolation final. Elijah Brown scored 15 points off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting, and had five boards. Mannie Odo finished with 14 points, going 7 for 12 from the floor. Nehemiah Jones added 11 points and nine boards. DJ Willis had 10 points, while shooting 4 for 6. Cjay Ingram had nine points, seven assists, three steals and five boards.

Richland shot 50 percent from three-point range, going 10 of 20, and Minnesota State & Tech was 11 of 31 from distance. The Thunderducks attempted 71 field goals to the Spartans' 57.

The Thunderducks outscored the Spartans 30-18 in the paint, and Richland's bench bested Minnesota State & Tech's 31-5.

Richland led by as many as 19 late, and overcame a seven-point deficit 6:30 into the game, which changed hands five times and found itself knotted twice.

Foday Sheriff scored 24 points, and grabbed 12 boards for the Spartans (30-4). Mason Muir added 21 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Yonis Mohamud scored 10 points, and had three steals.

Jones scored all 11 of his points in the second half – one in which the Thunderducks outrebounded the Spartans 29-17. Richland hit six of its triples in the first half, matching Minnesota State & Tech in that category.

Richland improved to 20-6 at the national tournament in nine appearances.  

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Barack Holland, Dallas College Richland

Mannie Odo, Dallas College Richland