Lions Woes Continue

by Tyriq D. Smith

The CCBC men's basketball team endured a tough overtime loss to Allegany College of Maryland, falling 83-77 in a hard-fought battle. Despite putting up a strong performance throughout the game, the Lions couldn't capitalize on their momentum in the extra period, as the game slipped away in the final moments. The team showed incredible resilience and determination, but in the end, the narrow margin proved costly. With this loss, the Lions' overall record now stands at 10-7, while their conference record sits at 6-3.

In the first half, the Lions came out with purpose, establishing a solid offensive rhythm early on. #20 Alex Obase was a standout performer, delivering a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting. #4 Hussain Williams also contributed significantly, scoring 16 points. The offense was clicking, but despite their strong play, the Lions found themselves trailing by 4 points at the half. Allegany didn't back down, and their offense kept pressure on CCBC, leading to a slight edge at the break.

After halftime, the Lions came out with renewed energy and a more aggressive defensive mindset. They tightened up their defense, which allowed them to claw their way back into the game. As they outscored Allegany by 4 points in the second half, they managed to tie the game and push it into overtime. #2 Damien Hopkins was particularly important during this stretch, finishing with 13 points and 2 assists, and providing a spark that kept the Lions in the fight.

In the extra period, the Lions found themselves struggling to find their rhythm, while the Trojans quickly jumped out to a small lead. Despite their best efforts to rally, the deficit proved too much to overcome, and the Lions ultimately fell in overtime by a tough 6-point margin.

Though this loss stings, the Lions aren't dwelling on it. They know they have to quickly regroup and refocus, especially with the stakes rising in conference play. Their next challenge comes on Wednesday, January 29th, when they face Chesapeake College at the CCBC Dundalk Athletics and Wellness Center.