FLINT, Mich. – An impressive 12-game winning streak came to an end Monday (Feb. 7) as No. 6 Macomb Men's Basketball fell to the host No. 17 Mott Bears, 81-78, in Flint. The loss—only the second of the campaign for the Monarchs—sends the Blue & White to 18-2 overall and 8-1 in MCCAA Eastern Conference play. The Bears snapped a three-game skid with the three-point victory and improved to 16-5 overall and an even 5-5 in the MCCAA East.

At 8-1 in conference play, the Monarchs end the night a game and a half up on Delta (7-3). Two other teams follow with four losses while three others check in with five losses.

The Monarchs' 12-game winning streak started Dec. 1 with a 92-50 victory over Kellogg. 

After a back-and-forth beginning to Monday's game, the host Bears ended the first half on a 13-7 run over the final four minutes of action to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room. The 13-7 run started when the Monarchs lost their second leading scorer and starting point guard, Elijah Belle (Detroit, Mich./Davenport), who didn't return after logging 16 minutes of action.

Showcasing plenty of grit, the Monarchs started the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 40-36 lead less than three minutes into the latter frame. The Monarchs would grow their second half lead to as many as seven, but the Bears went on a scoring spree of their own to regain the lead down the stretch. The Monarchs battled back to have a chance to win it in the final minute, but ultimately it was the Bears' night as the hosts held on for the three-point victory.

The Bears attacked the glass throughout the evening and went on to outrebound the Monarchs 41-27, including a decisive 17-6 edge in offensive rebounds. The Bears, a team ranked No. 1 in the country earlier this season, made the most of their offensive rebounding advantage and went on to earn an 18-8 edge in second-chance points.

In all, Monday's conference battle between a pair of top-20 teams featured four ties and 13 lead changes.

Tariq Humes (Farmington, Mich./Elevation Prep) had it going once again and posted a game-high 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting (four 3PM). Humes was followed by Jiovanni Miles (Novi, Mich./Wisconsin-Green Bay) who checked in with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. John Ukomadu (Bloomfield, Mich./Vincennes) recorded 12 points (two 3PM) and five rebounds, while Jaylen Daughtery (Detroit, Mich./Mott) ended the night with 10 points and four boards for the Monarchs.