NJCAA Game 10: Ellsworth Community College 76, Monroe Community College 58

Mar. 19—DANVILLE — Ellsworth Community College doesn't have a single player on is roster that was alive the last time the Panthers played in a NJCAA National Tournament.

As a matter of fact, Ellsworth has never played in the NJCAA Division II Tournament — all three of the appearances (1971, 1977 and 1986) came at the Division I level, including a National Championship in 1971.

So, the Panthers made a little history on Tuesday with a 76-58 victory over Monroe Community College at the Mary Miller Center.

"This is a 38-year drought that we ended today," said Ellsworth coach Bryan Bender. "Our motto in this tournament is one more four times, now, it's one more three times."

Ellsworth punched its ticket into Wednesday's quarterfinals with a tenacious defensive effort that held Monroe nearly 20 points under its season scoring average of 77.8 points per game.

"We really guarded them from start to finish," Bender said. "We held a good team to a low shooting percentage and a low score."

The Panthers (28-6) also struggled at times with their shooting, but they got things rolling in the second half, making 19-of-33 (57.6 percent) and scoring 46 points.

"We want to play fast, but our shots weren't falling in the first half," Bender said. "We were able to play a little faster in the second half to open things up."

Forward Chimobi Ikegwuruka had 15 of his 16 points off the bench in the second-half for Ellsworth, while guard Cameron Liggins had a game-high 22 — 10 in the second half — and Clinton Efinda was the only other Panther in double figures with 10.

Ikegwuruka, who has scored in double figures in all 19 games that he has played, also had a game-high 11 rebounds giving the redshirt freshman his ninth double-double of the season.

Monroe, which was 0-for-14 from 3-point range, was led in scoring by Jaden Fleming with 18, Terrell Williams had 14 and Kenneth Tyree finished with 11. Williams also had 10 rebounds to give sophomore a double-double.

Ellsworth advances to play Milwaukee Area Technical College, the defending NJCAA Division II National Champion, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Monroe plays Iowa Lakes in the consolation bracket at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ellsworth Community College 76, Monroe Community College 58

Monroe (58) — Terrell Williams 6-15 2-3 14, Jaden Fleming 6-13 6-6 18, Treymaire Dodd 1-5 0-0 2, Kenneth Tyree 4-13 3-4 11, Mohamed Sournahoro 1-2 0-0 2, Fancisco Mattei 0-1 0-0 0, Omar White 3-5 0-0 6, Jamai Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Davon Ellison 0-5 1-2 1, Ibrahima Bah 0-1 0-0 0, J'Zhuan Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Iranzi Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Yousef Farag 2-5 0-0 4. Totals: 23-65 12-15 58.

Ellsworth (76) — Jaron Crews 1-5 0-0 2, Cameron Liggins 10-20 2-2 22, Jordan Glenn-Hawkins 4-8 1-3 9, Clinton Efinda 4-11 2-2 10, Bessanty Saragba 3-6 1-2 7, Brennan Geohegan 1-1 0-0 3, Arlandus Keyes 1-7 2-2 4, Christopher Willis 0-0 0-0 0, Chimobi Ikegwuruka 6-10 4-8 16, Lamarana Diallo 1-1 0-0 2, Velko Munitlak 0-0 0-0 0, Themba Tshuma 0-1 1-2 1, Hemed Khalifa 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Bicknese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 31-70 13-21 76.

Monroe '25 '33 '— '58

Ellsworth '30 '46 '— '76

3-pointers — Monroe 0-14 (Williams 0-2, Fleming 0-2, Dodd 0-2, Tyree 0-4, White 0-1, Ellison 0-2, Faraq 0-1). Ellsworth 1-12 (Geohegan 1-1, Crews 0-2, Liggins 0-3, Glenn-Hawkins 0-2, Efinda 0-2, Keyes 0-2). Rebounds — Monroe 42 (Williams 10). Ellsworth 44 (Ikegwuruka 11). Assists — Monroe 4 (Williams 2). Ellsworth 13 (Saragba 4, Keyes 4). Turnovers — Monroe 16, Ellsworth 14. Total fouls — Monroe 17, Ellsworth 14. Fouled out — none.

Records — Monroe Community College 25-7 overall. Ellsworth Community College 28-6 overall.