HIGHLIGHTS

FLINT, Mich. – Macomb Men's Basketball is one win away from a trip to the NJCAA Division II National Championship after topping the Lakers of Mid Michigan College by a 57-47 final Friday (March 10) in the semifinals of the Region XII Great Lakes District C Tournament. The 10-point victory lifts the Monarchs into Sunday's tournament championship against MCCAA Western Conference Champion, Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Tip-off for Sunday's title game is set for 12 p.m. at Mott Community College in Flint.

Sunday's winner will punch their ticket to the NJCAA Division II National Championship, a 16-team tournament played March 21-25 at the Mary Miller Center in Danville, Ill.

In a defensive battle throughout, the eighth-ranked Monarchs put their top-ranked defense on display by holding the Lakers to 47 points on 27.1% shooting, including a 25.9% clip and a total of 21 points in the second half. The Monarchs entered the game ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division II in opponent's points per game allowed (60.8) and No. 1 in field goal percentage defense (36.3%).

The Monarchs and Lakers were tied at the break, 26-26, before Macomb pulled away behind a 22-9 run to start the second half. In a game that featured eight ties and seven lead changes, the Monarchs ballooned their lead to as many as 13 points and never looked back after the second half run to earn the 10-point victory.

Kareem Aburashed (West Bloomfield, Mich./Country Day) led the Monarchs with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 effort from the charity stripe. Aidan Rubio (Flint, Mich./Goodrich/DME Academy) came up big for the Monarchs in the second half, making several key plays as part of a stat line that included 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Tamario Adley (Detroit, Mich./De La Salle) recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds (four offensive) in the win.

Tymias Williams (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) pulled down 10 rebounds while fighting foul trouble and Jaylen Daughtery (Oak Park, Mich./Ferndale) followed with six boards, a steal and a block. Cameron McEvans (Southfield, Mich./Southfield A&T) put together an efficient performance for head coach Hassan Nizam and the Monarchs as the veteran tallied eight points on 3-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes of action.

The Monarchs now turn their attention to the Cougars of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a team they defeated by an 80-67 final in Warren on Dec. 17.