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Blue Devils Knock Off No. 11 North Central in 74–70 Road Victory

Blue Devils Knock Off No. 11 North Central in 74–70 Road Victory

The Kansas City Kansas Community College men's basketball team earned a statement road win Saturday night, edging No. 11 North Central Missouri College 74–70 in a tightly contested matchup. The Blue Devils built momentum early behind efficient perimeter shooting, connecting on 12-of-21 three-point attempts, and held off a late push from the Pirates with timely defensive plays, finishing with 10 steals. The victory served as a measure of redemption for KCKCC, which had previously fallen to the Pirates 82–75 earlier in the season at the KCKCC Hall of Fame Classic at Breidenthal Court.

The game opened with both teams trading three-pointers, as Camden Bennett scored first for the Pirates before Kamoni Ford answered from deep for the Blue Devils. Anthony Leonard and Malik Lewis helped KCKCC establish control midway through the first half, extending the lead to as many as 10 points with strong inside finishes and perimeter scoring. North Central Missouri countered behind James Porter III's steady production in the paint, trimming the deficit to just two by halftime, with KCKCC holding a slim 33–31 advantage.

KCKCC came out aggressively in the second half, sparked by early three-pointers from Jameson Fischer and Ford to stretch the lead. Although the Pirates briefly tied the game at 14:49, the Blue Devils responded quickly, regaining momentum with a Ford layup and a clutch three from Leonard. Down the stretch, Ford drilled a key three-pointer at the 4:09 mark, and Darren McHenry sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final minute. Leonard led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Ford added 20 points, five made threes, and three steals in a complete performance that helped secure the 74–70 road victory.