The FMCC Men's Basketball team finished their prolific 2023-2024 season at the NJCAA Championship Tournament in Herkimer. Head Coach Ej Gallup led his squad to the National Tournament for the second straight season.
"It was a great accomplishment for my kids to get themselves back to the National Championship Tournament again this season. It was a goal of theirs coming into the season, and they put in the work and achieved it," stated Head Coach Ej Gallup.
On Wednesday, March 13th the Raiders opened the National Tournament as the #8 seed against the 9th seeded Sandhill Flyers.
FMCC fell behind early, as Sandhills took a 10-5 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the first half. The Raiders hit the offensive glass and Kennyh Hardeman sank a jump shot to cut the deficit, 17-15. With five minutes left in the half, Schumel Shepherd took the lead for the first time in the game, 31-30. The Raiders went into the locker room leading 45-43 at the half.
In the second half, it was a back-and-forth contest between two talented squads. Donovan Rodriguez drilled a three pointer to go ahead 73-68 with six minutes to play. The Raiders had a couple turnovers down the stretch and The Flyers were able to tie the game at 78. Head Coach Ej Gallup drew up a play for the last shot, but it did not fall through the net, and we went to overtime.
In overtime, FMCC jumped out to an 84-80 lead with two minutes to play. The Flyers got a steal for a lay-up and made a jumper to tie the game at 84 with 1:19 to play. Sandhill made foul shots down the stretch to secure the 89-84 victory.
Nahjhime Kirton led with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Donovan Rodriguez had 15 points and 6 rebounds.
"Obviously an OT loss in an 8-9 game is heart breaking and that was a hell of a basketball game, we just came up short verse a great team and program in Sand Hills," said Gallup.
The loss moved the Raiders into the consolation game on Thursday against #12 Ulster. FMCC would head into the game without three starters. The Raider bench stepped up and made solid contributions.
FMCC jumped out to a 14-3 lead and led the rest of the game. At the half, they led 40-34.
In the second half, Hostos was able to cut the deficit to just one point, but Ethan Hoo had an answer as he hit back-to-back three pointers and FM led, 56-49. Ian Holland stepped up with a big presence in the paint for FM.
Hoo hit another three-pointer to go up by 12 points with six minutes to play and put the game out of reach and secured the 82-71 victory.
"Coming back the next morning at 10:00 a.m. for another game, down three starters and these boys stepped up from the bench and played for each other and had the toughness to come right back the next day. It might be a consolation game, but it is a win in the national tournament and just all things considered, I think it is the proudest I have ever been of them. It has been a heck of a ride this season that will be in the FMCC record books. I am just happy for them that they will always have this season to look back on and be proud of," said Head Coach Ej Gallup.
Ethan Hoo and Jordan Jackson each had 25 points, combining for 12 threes. Donovan Rodriguez had 15 points and 9 rebounds. Max Pritchett grabbed 10 rebounds and Ian Holland with 9.
This 2024 Raider Basketball squad is one for the record books. They rode a 17-game winning streak and set the new program record for consecutive wins. They finish the season with a 26-5 record, including five wins against teams ranked in the top 15. Head Coach Ej Gallup reached 50 career wins faster than any coach in program history.
