NOVA Outlasts Men's Basketball

ARNOLD, Md. – A late run by the Northern Virginia Community College men's basketball team dealt Anne Arundel Community College an 82-75 loss at Jenkins Gym Saturday afternoon. The Riverhawks led by five at halftime, but were outscored by 12 in the second half.

The game featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties, with NOVA garnering its largest lead of nine in the final 15 seconds of the game.

Jeremiah Stroman recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Truth Norton led all scorers with 19 points. Malik Carroll added 12 points and eight rebounds. Marquis James chipped in with 14 points and five boards.

AACC started the game down by six but four-straight three-pointers – two from Jack Taylor and two from Stroman – put the Riverhawks in the driver's seat before five minutes had gone by. NOVA chipped away and took the lead around the halfway point of the first before James hit a pair of baskets down low to re-take the lead. Both teams scored 38 points in the paint in the game.

NOVA later went back up by three but a Michael Duffy trey with 2:04 left in the half put AACC back ahead. After a statement dunk from Norton, Duffy pulled down a defensive board and earned a trip to the line where he sank both free throws. He finished the night with seven points in seven minutes on the court, going 4-for-4 from the line.

AACC gave up the first five points of the second half but recovered back to a seven-point lead. The Riverhawks held onto the lead until NOVA's Lorenzo Snyder hit three free throws at 14:16 for a 53-52 advantage.

The teams traded the lead five more times throughout the second half with NOVA taking the lead for good with just over seven minutes left to play. AACC got to within one with 1:20 to play on a pair of Norton free throws, but untimely fouls sent the Nighthawks to the line five times over the final minute.

NOVA led in rebounds, 41-37, and generated 22 points off of the Riverhawks' 14 turnovers. AACC meanwhile scored 16 points off of NOVA's 14 miscues.

AACC is idle until the New Year when the Riverhawks host CCAC at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, in a Region 20 divisional matchup.