Jamestown Community College’s Elgin Oliver lays up a shot while being defended by Niagara County CC’s Taylor Sanders during Wednesday’s NJCAA Region 3 game at the Physical Education Complex. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

Jamestown Community College’s men’s basketball team faced a tough matchup Wednesday night.

Niagara County CC, the fourth-ranked NJCAA Division II team in the nation, visited the Physical Education Complex.

But the Jayhawks are familiar with some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. Already this season, they have beaten the top-ranked Division III team, Genesee CC, and fallen to the top-ranked and 12th-ranked Division II teams in Sullivan County CC and Lakeland CC, respectively.

Jamestown CC was again primed for an upset Wednesday, but after a hot start couldn’t keep up with the Region 3-leading Thunderwolves en route to an 84-67 loss.

“I’m proud of how our guys fought,” Jamestown CC head coach Xavier Churnac said. ” … I think we are a better team than we were (earlier) this season. … We just have to keep getting better day by day.”

Lamar Lovelace led Niagara County CC with 22 points to go along with nine rebounds while three other Thunderwolves reached double figures in scoring.

“(Lovelace) hurt us,” Churnac said. ” … He got double his average.”

Jared Martin led four Jayhawks in double figures with 16 points.

Jamestown CC jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening five minutes, but Julian Cunningham’s 3-pointer with 14:08 remaining slowed the momentum.

“I had a good feeling because the guys were focused,” Churnac said of his team’s start. “I’ve never really seen them that focused. They were locked in.”

Niagara County CC eventually tied the game at 21-all with 8:38 left in the first half on a bucket from Jalen Franklin.

“The next step is sustaining it. I knew they were going to go on a run,” Churnac said. “They’re a good team. They’re No. 4 in the country.”

The Thunderwolves took control of the game with a 20-0 run that included a dunk from Aaron Miller and was capped by a 3-pointer by Noreon Williams.

“I saw a lot of hand checking and that kind of messed with the momentum,” Churnac said. “We coughed it up a few times and that led to some buckets.”

The Jayhawks’ Josiah Ransom stopped the run with 55 seconds left in the half, but a free throw from Fenley Jean-Baptiste sent Niagara County CC into the locker room with a 43-26 halftime lead.

“I just think they got away with a lot. They were really physical with us and we weren’t able to be as physical,” Churnac said. “In the first half, it was nine fouls to four. … We were going to the basket.”

The Thunderwolves’ lead grew to as many as 22 midway through the second half before Jamestown CC cut its deficit to as little as 12 on a Traden Gray jumper with 5:03 remaining, but Niagara County CC put it away from there.

“We could’ve gotten some better offense in certain stretches of the game. I think they are a beatable team. I think the next time we see them we can throw a better punch,” Churnac said. “We had our opportunities. We definitely did.”

The Jayhawks close the first semester with a nonconference game at Villa Maria on Saturday and a Region 3 game at home next Wednesday against Monroe CC.

NOTES: Jamestown High School graduate Jaral Farmer played 13 minutes, went 2 for 2 from the field, including 1 of 1 from 3-point range, scoring 5 points and grabbing two rebounds for Niagara County CC. The Thunderwolves are coached by Billy Beilein, the nephew of Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein. … Jamestown CC was 24 of 62 from the field, including 6 of 26 from 3-point range, while turning the ball over 17 times. … Niagara County CC was 32 of 77 from the field, including 6 of 22 from 3-point range, while turning the ball over six times.

NIAGARA COUNTY CC (84)

Miller 5-11 4-4 14, Lovelace 8-13 4-4 22, Jones 1-8 2-2 4, Jean-Baptiste 4-7 3-9 11, Sanders 0-5 0-0 0, Beilein 0-3 0-0 0, Hydara 5-11 0-3 10, Cunningham 2-5 0-0 6, Franklin 4-6 0-0 8, Williams 1-6 1-2 4, Farmer 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 32-77 14-24 84.

JAMESTOWN CC (67)

Ransom 3-9 4-7 11, Gray 3-7 0-0 6, Oliver 1-7 4-4 6, Martin 7-16 0-0 16, Chambers 4-10 2-3 10, Fajardo 0-1 0-0 0, Diaz 2-4 3-4 7, Manero 4-8 0-0 11. Totals 24-62 13-18 67.

Halftime–Niagara County CC 43, Jamestown CC 26. 3-point goals–Niagara County CC 6-22 (Miller 0-2, Lovelace 2-3, Jones 0-3, Sanders 0-2, Beilein 0-2, Hydara 0-3, Cunningham 2-2, Williams 1-4, Farmer 1-1), Jamestown CC 6-26 (Ransom 1-5, Gray 0-1, Oliver 0-3, Martin 2-8, Chambers 0-2, Fajardo 0-1, Manero 3-6). Total Rebounds–Niagara County CC 50 (Jean-Baptiste 12), Jamestown CC 47 (Martin 7, Manero 7). Assists–Niagara County CC 10, Jamestown CC 14. Total Fouls–Niagara County CC 16, Jamestown CC 17.