Eastfield Falls in Opening Round of NJCAA DIII Tournament

HERKIMER, N.Y. – Dallas College Eastfield's third-ranked men's basketball team fell to Joliet Junior College 84-83 in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Tournament at Herkimer College Wednesday.

The Harvester Bees (20-10) will play Northampton Community College (26-5) at 9 a.m. CT Thursday in the consolation bracket.

All five Eastfield starters scored in double figures in a game decided in the closing seconds. Aiden White scored with 19 seconds remaining to put the Harvesters Bees ahead by a point. Joliet's Kareem Parker grabbed an offensive rebound, and scored on a putback with four seconds to play. Eastfield's desperation 3-pointer with one second to go was off the mark, and the Wolves (16-11) moved on to the quarterfinals.

David Uwalaka finished with 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks for the Bees. He was 6 of 12 from the floor. Braydon Campbell had 15 points and 10 assists. Ricky Wilson had 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, a block and a steal. Martez James had 14 points and 12 boards, including five on the offensive glass. White scored 12 points.

The Harvesters shot 46.4 percent. The Wolves hit 48.2 percent of their field goals. Joliet was 23 of 28 at the free throw line. Eastfield went 12 for 18.

Ricky Hill scored 27 points, and had six assists and five rebounds for Joliet. Levi Goad had 15 points, and Jyaveion Green 13.

Eastfield led by as many as four with 8:47 to play in the first half when Campbell converted a three-point play. Green canned a 3-pointer to give Joliet a seven-point lead at the 2:48 mark. The Wolves bumped it to nine on three possessions over the next 1:02. The Harvesters used a 3 by Uwalaka and a layup from Wilson to cut it to five at halftime.

Joliet extended its lead to 12 with 8:49 to play on a 3 by Green. White scored on a layup as Eastfield used a 7-0 run to draw within 70-65. Reggie McDonald's triple pulled the Harvesters within one at the 2:08 mark to set up the tightwire act finish.

Eastfield outscored Joliet 22-13 in second chance points. Both teams had 38 points in the paint, and each made seven triples.