ACC Battles But Falls Short Against Delta

ALPENA, Mich. – The Alpena Community College men's basketball team fought hard but came up short against Delta College on Saturday afternoon, falling 91-82 in a competitive conference matchup at Park Arena. The loss drops the Lumberjacks to 1-16 overall and 0-7 in conference play.

Delta jumped out to an early 8-1 lead behind baskets from Sir Real Smith and Amari Taylor, but the Lumberjacks battled back. Kobe Johnson hit a free throw and Oliver Duthler connected on a jumper to cut the deficit to 8-5 midway through the first half.

The game remained tight throughout the opening period, with neither team able to pull away. Johnson knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Derian Williams to tie the game at 12-12 with 15 minutes remaining in the half. Patterson answered a Delta run with back-to-back free throws to keep ACC within reach at 15-14.

After Delta extended its lead to 15-21, Williams and Patterson combined for five straight points to bring the Lumberjacks back within one possession. The teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the half, with ACC finding success in transition and Delta controlling the paint. At the break, the Pioneers held a narrow 37-32 advantage, setting up a competitive second half.

The Lumberjacks opened the second half with energy, as Patterson drilled a three-pointer assisted by Williams to cut the deficit to 39-35. Smith answered with a bucket for Delta, but the Pioneers began to extend their lead with hot shooting from beyond the arc. Dovydas Kačinskas connected on back-to-back three-pointers, pushing Delta's advantage to 51-39.

ACC refused to go away quietly. Patterson scored on consecutive possessions, including an and-one opportunity, to spark a Lumberjack run.  Johnson and Williams continued to attack the basket, keeping the Lumberjacks within striking distance.

The Pioneers responded with a decisive run midway through the half. Kačinskas and Jimmy McCrum hit three-pointers to extend the lead to 65-45 with just over 12 minutes to play. Delta's balanced attack and dominance on the boards proved too much for ACC to overcome, as the visitors maintained a comfortable cushion throughout the final minutes.

Despite the deficit, the Lumberjacks showed fight down the stretch. Oluwatobi Ogunyode threw down a dunk assisted by Brayden Franzel, and Patterson continued his scoring barrage with a series of mid-range jumpers. A late three-pointer by Johnson brought ACC within seven at 89-82 with 41 seconds remaining, but Delta closed out the game at the free-throw line.

Patterson led ACC with 22 points on 8-of-21 shooting, adding six rebounds.

Williams contributed a strong all-around performance with 20 points, six assists, and three steals. The guard facilitated the offense throughout the game and showed his playmaking ability with several key assists to Patterson and Johnson. Williams also excelled at the free-throw line, converting four of five attempts.

Johnson scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. His early three-pointer helped tie the game in the first half, and he continued to attack the basket aggressively in the second half. Johnson also contributed four rebounds and was active on the defensive end.

Ogunyode energized the Lumberjacks with 10 points and four rebounds off the bench. His athleticism was on display with a thunderous dunk in the second half, and he provided quality minutes on both ends of the floor. Jadin Mix made his presence felt defensively with a team-high five steals, disrupting Delta's offensive flow multiple times.

For Delta, Sir Real Smith dominated with a double-double of 22 points and 18 rebounds while adding five assists. His presence in the paint was overwhelming, as he controlled the glass and finished around the rim. Deontrey Gary orchestrated the Pioneers' offense with 23 points and six assists, consistently making the right play. Kačinskas was lethal from deep, knocking down four three-pointers and finishing with 13 points.

Alpena struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 17.2% (5-of-29) on three-point attempts, while Delta connected at a more efficient 34.6% clip (9-of-26). The Lumberjacks were more successful inside the arc, shooting 40% overall from the field.

The Pioneers dominated the glass, out-rebounding ACC 49-38, including a 14-13 advantage on the offensive boards. This led to numerous second-chance opportunities for Delta and limited ACC's possessions.

The Lumberjacks showed grit on the defensive end with 11 steals, creating turnovers and transition opportunities. However, Delta's ability to take care of the basketball and execute in halfcourt sets proved decisive. The Pioneers also held a significant advantage in assists, 17-11, demonstrating better ball movement.

The Lumberjacks return to action on Wednesday, February 4, when they host Kirtland Community College at Park Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.