JAMESTOWN, NY – What a battle! In a game that featured the current eighth-ranked team in NJCAA Division II, Macomb, and the preseason No. 3 team, Niagara County, it was the Monarchs who earned the victory by attacking the basket early and often in a 97-83 win over a well-coached Thunderwolves squad. The strong offensive performance saw the Monarchs tally 97 points for the second time in as many days. The Monarchs have now eclipsed the 90-point mark seven times this season (all seven wins).

The 14-point win elevates the Monarchs record to 7-1 on the season and avenges last season's 62-54 setback at Niagara County. The Thunderwolves saw their record shift to 7-5 following the setback to the Monarchs.

Tymias Williams (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) was impressive from the opening tip as the sophomore forward helped the Monarchs jump out to an early lead. Williams and the Monarchs would lead by as many as 10 in the first half (24-14) before the Thunderwolves made a late push to tie the game going into the break, 39-39.

The teams exchanged buckets over the first five minutes of second half action before the Monarchs broke the game open with an 18-4 run over a six-minute stretch to turn a 45-45 tie into a 63-49 advantage with 9:01 remaining. The run, part of a 58-point second half, gave the Monarchs the lead for good, a lead that would eventually balloon to 22 points in the 97-83 triumph over the perennial power out of Western New York.

Up by double digits in each half, the Monarchs held the lead for an impressive 37:25 of game action and sank 38 of their 49 attempts from the charity stripe.

Williams paced the eighth-ranked Monarchs with a career-best 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and five assists for one of his best games in a Macomb jersey. Kyle Millender (Detroit, Mich./DEPSA) tallied 14 points to go along with a pair of boards and assists and Juwan Maxey (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) provided the balance once again with 13 points, a team-high nine rebounds and three assists. Parker Day (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage/GVSU) checked in with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block to round out four in double figures for the Monarchs.

Marlon Williams (Benton Harbor, Mich./Benton Harbor) added nine points and Josh Hines (Macomb, Mich./Dakota/U-Indy) had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Justin James (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) and Jotham Nweke (Oak Park, Mich./Loyola) tallied seven points each.

Up Next: The Monarchs visit Glen Oaks Community College Saturday (Dec. 9) at 3 p.m.