By GREG SPITZIG

CLEVELAND, NOV. 22 — Cuyahoga Community College’s men’s basketball team downed the visiting Schoolcraft College Ocelots 81-68 Tuesday night. The victory is the team’s eighth straight on the season, raising its record to 8-0. 

The Triceratops took an early lead that they never relinquished, and were up by 20 points or more at various times in the contest. Tri-C used the combination of offensive hustle, balanced scoring, and an opportunistic defense to force the Ocelots into some turnovers and bad shots. The smothering “D,” consisting of traps and presses, seemed to frustrate the Ocelots. 

“Every game I try to keep other teams off balance by just changing defenses, running different things at them, trying to speed them up, and force them into bad shots.” Tri-C Head Coach Aaron Nixon said. “I view (the opposition’s) bad shots as turnovers.” 

Guard Tyishawn Smiley (Freshman, from Glenville HS) led the Triceratops in scoring with 17 points, including a few ferocious dunks that inspired the home crowd.  He also had nine rebounds to fall just short of a double-double. Other contributors to the Triceratops comfortable victory included wing Devin Haid, (Freshman, from Wooster HS) who had 14 points; point guard Jordan Persad, (Sophomore, from Toronto’s Oakville Prep) who finished with 12 points; and wing Tallice Landers, (Freshman, from Dayton Flyght Academy) who had 11 points. 

The Tri-C men’s basketballers will look to keep their undefeated season going on Wednesday, Nov. 30 with a 200-mile road trip south to oppose the 5-2 Hocking College Hawks.  

Hocking had a 24-2 record, including 11-1 in conference play, in the 2021-2022 season. This is the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) opener for both teams. 

Spitzig is a student in Cuyahoga Community College’s sports reporting and broadcasting class, MJS 2070. He wrote this on deadline for the class. Photos by eyeoncleveland.com founder John Kerezy

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