WARREN, Mich. – The Macomb Men's Basketball team will open the second half of MCCAA Eastern Conference play this week with a pair of pivotal home games at Wayne State University's Matthaei Center in Detroit. The Monarchs open the big week against No. 15 Schoolcraft College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 4) before hosting Henry Ford College, a team receiving votes in the latest national poll, at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Macomb enters this week 12-10 overall and 5-2 in league action. The Monarchs are one of four teams to finish the first half of MCCAA East play with a 5-2 record as they sit in a logjam atop the conference with Schoolcraft, Henry Ford and No. 18 Oakland Community College.
A LOOK AT SCHOOLCRAFT: At 18-3 overall and 5-2 in the MCCAA East, the No. 15 Ocelots are the highest ranked team out of the MCCAA and NJCAA Region 12. After suffering back-to-back losses two weeks ago, the Ocelots got back on track with two victories last week, including a statement win at St. Clair County Community College on Saturday (Jan. 31) by a 103-78 final.
As a team, the Ocelots average 79.7 points, 43.5 rebounds and 13.3 assists per game. J'Vohn Walker leads the offense in scoring with 15.7 points per contest while Tyler Robinson (12.9 PPG), Rael Cochran (12.6 PPG) and Amir Perryman (11.5 PPG) follow in double figures for the balanced Ocelots. Robinson leads the team on the glass with 8.5 rebounds per contest while Perryman dishes out a team-best 4.4 assists per game.
EJ Haralson is in his third year as head coach of the program.
A LOOK AT HENRY FORD: Henry Ford saw a four-game winning streak snapped at home on Saturday against Mott Community College, falling 77-72. The Hawks enter the week 12-6 overall and 5-2 in MCCAA East action.
As a team, the Hawks average 87.3 points per game, good for sixth in a high-octane MCCAA, and pull down 41.1 rebounds per night to go along with 19.1 assists per game. The 19.1 assists per game ranks third out of 24 teams in the MCCAA. Jayce Branson has continued to have a solid freshman campaign averaging a team-best 20.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Shemarion Hardy is another one of several players to watch for the Hawks, averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 6.7 assists per game.
The Hawks are led by head coach Chris Shepard.
A LOOK AT MACOMB: The Monarchs shot out to a 60-24 halftime lead on their way to an 87-69 victory over Jackson College on Saturday in Detroit.
Joey Angok and
Caron Williams led the way with 16 points each,
Malachi Irving added 11 points and
Donald Wilburn posted 10 points.
Tabari Howard stuffed the stat sheet with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds and
Dante Wimberly chipped in seven points and a team-best seven assists. The Monarchs controlled the glass, outrebounding the Jets by a staggering 43-17 margin while scoring 56 points in the paint.
Williams continues to pace the Monarchs offensively with 14.2 points per contest while Howard leads the team on the glass with 6.7 boards per game. Angok is averaging 12.6 points per game while Irving has netted 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Christopher Burns' team has posted a 4-0 record at their temporary 2025-26 home inside Wayne State's Matthaei Center. In all, the Monarchs are averaging 75.6 points per game and pulling down 41.1 rebounds per contest.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: The Monarchs opened MCCAA East play with a 76-64 loss at Schoolcraft on Jan. 10. The Ocelots have won the last two meetings after dropping nine straight in the series dating back to 2020.
The Monarchs bounced back from the conference-opening loss in Livonia with a 79-73 road win at Henry Ford on Jan. 14. The series between the Monarchs and Hawks has been one of the best across the entire MCCAA in recent years.
LIVE COVERAGE: Both games will be streamed live on
MacombMonarchs.com/Watch this week. Live stats will be available for both contests
here.
UP NEXT: Macomb hits the road following this week to take on Mott Community College on Feb. 11. Tip-off from the Ballenger Field House is set for 7:30 p.m. in Flint.
