KCKCC MEN END LOSSES

                The Blue Devil men snapped their 3-game losing streak with a thrilling 2-point win at Wentworth Military Academy Monday night.               

                 The Blue Devil men dropped an 81-70 decision to NIACC on Friday and fell 92-79 to Ellsworth on Saturday before pulling out a 56-54 win at Wentworth.

The Blue Devil men (4-4)are right back in action in the Highland Classic this weekend, facing On Point Academy Friday and Southern Institute Saturday. Both games are at 2 p.m.

The Blue Devil men got a pair of big scoring performances from sophomore transfer Brandon Ward, who had 26 points in each weekend game, hitting 10 of 14 shots against NIACC and 9 of 15 against Ellsworth but it wasn't enough to overcome a rash of turnovers or a lack of size.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 17-2 lead against NIACC only to turn the ball over 18 times in an 81-70 loss. KCKCC shot well, hitting 54.9 percent from the field but only 6 of 25 from 3-point while the Trojans were 11 of 23 from 3-point while hitting 51.9 percent and holding a 29-26 rebound edge. Clay Young and Delondre Williams each added 12 points and each only missed once from the field. Young also led rebounding with seven.

Ellsworth took advantage of 22 KCKCC turnovers and a 39-30 command of the boards for its 92-79 win. In addition to Ward's 26 points, Williams added a career high 19, Nate Collins 11, Young 9 and Stephen Leimbach 8. Young again led rebounding with six; Anthony Ridley in assists with six.

Lucas Smith had 12 points, Ward 11 and Young 10 as the Blue Devils went right down to the wire at Wentworth. Smith also has nine rebounds, Young seven and Ward six for KCKCC, which managed just 28.8 percent shooting but committed a season low eight turnovers.