NORTH EAST, Pa. - The Jamestown Community College men's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking loss in an NJCAA Region 3 game on Saturday.
The game was deadlocked at 90-90 with less than a minute left when JCC was inbounding the ball under its basket, but Je-Land Head stole the ball and his ensuing three-point play lifted Mercyhurst North East to a 96-90 victory.
JCC came down and failed to score and fouled Soutini Sappas, who made both ends of his foul opportunities to put the game away.
Neither team had much of an edge throughout as they traded baskets, but JCC led at halftime, 46-42, with Davonte Dunham having 17 points and Tyreek Jewell nine.
Damon Jones and Deandrye Henderson had 11 points to lead Mercyhurst North East in the opening 20 minutes.
The second half belonged to Sappas, who scored 25 of his 32 points, including five 3-pointers for the winners. Jones wound up with 23 points, Henderson 18 and Head 10.
Dunham checked out with 24 points with four 3-pointers, Jewell 19 points and reserve Omar St. John 14 for JCC.
The hosts held a 35-27 edge with Jones grabbing 10. St. John hauled down 10 for the Jayhawks.
Dunham had seven assists and two steals for JCC while Head led Mercyhurst North East with eight assists and Sappas four steals.
JCC returns to action against arch-rival and host JCC-Olean on Tuesday night.
JCC (90)
Dunham 8 4-6 24, Newell 1 0-0 2, Jewell 7 4-10 19, Stokes 3 0-0 6, Sterling 3 3-3 9, St. John 5 3-4 14, Forrest 6 0-0 16. Totals 33 14-23 90.
MERCYHURST NORTH EAST (96)
Henderson 7 3-5 18, Jones 9 5-9 23, Sappas 10 6-7 32, Ford 3 3-4 9, Head 2 5-6 10, Brockington 1 0-0 2, Herring 0 0-0 0, McLaughlin 1 0-0 2. Totals 33 20-29 96.
Halftime: JCC 46, Mercyhurst-North East 42. 3-Point Goals: Dunham 4, Jewell, Forrest 4, St. John, Henderson 3, Sappas 6, Head. Total Fouls: JCC 23, Mercyhurst-North East 14. Fouled Out: Stokes.