Thunderducks Win in Opening Round of National Tourney

HERKIMER, N.Y. – Dallas College Richland men's basketball team beat Dutchess Community College 63-58 in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Tournament at Herkimer College Wednesday.

In their return trip to the national tournament, the fourth-ranked Thunderducks (21-9) advanced to Thursday's 5 p.m. CT quarterfinals to play Riverland Community College (29-2).

Richland never trailed, and led by as many as 16 a little less than nine minutes into the game.

Dre Rutledge had 15 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal for the Thunderducks, who shot 45.5 percent from the field. Rutledge grabbed five offensive rebounds. Cedric Dent had 14 points and five assists. He was 5 of 11 from the floor.

Jase Tarver, who finished with 10 points and five rebounds, scored on back-to-back possessions in a 16-second span as the Thunderducks built a 25-9 lead at the 11:07 mark in the first half. Dutchess (26-5) cut it to eight before Cedric Dent, who had 14 points and five assists, buried a three-pointer with 3:08 remaining in the opening half. Andrew Huntley's jumper extended the lead to 37-22 with just over a minute-and-a-half before halftime. Joubron Bebe sank a free throw with 10 seconds on the clock to send the Thunderducks into the break up 40-24.

Huntley had 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals, and Bebe scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Dutchess went on a 13-2 run to open the second half, pulling within five with 14:16 to play. Richland pushed the lead back to 10 on a pair of free throws by Rutledge. Nouhoun Diarra's 3-pointer pulled the Falcons within 49-42 at the 9:10 mark. Aston Lewis' triple with 6:48 to go kept Dutchess within seven until Tarver scored on the next possession. Huntley's 3 re-extended the lead to 13 at the 4:18 mark.

Bebe scored with 1:56 on the clock to put Richland up 61-49. Supreme Niles scored on a lay-in, and sank a pair at the free throw line with 36 seconds left as the Falcons cut it to 63-56. Josiah Salmon's dunk 16 seconds later was as close as Dutchess got, and Richland moved on.

Niles had 17 points, and Jordin Walker 12 for the Falcons, who went 7 for 16 at the free throw line.

Richland won its opening round game at the national tournament for the second straight year. The Thunderducks also beat Dutchess for a second consecutive season at the NJCAA Division III Tournament, last year in a 67-60 victory in the quarterfinals.