The Pioneers Bounce Back And Defeat Miami Dade

Miami, Florida – The Pioneers were able to get back to their winning ways on Saturday when they defeated Miami Dade College, 91-79. The win improved Indian River State College (IRSC) Men's Basketball Team's record 18-8 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Conference.
Miami Dade took an early 10-7 lead before Jai Clark hit a three-point shot tying the game with 13:40 to play in the first half. The Pioneers took a 12-point advantage with just under 8 minutes to go in the first half on a driving lay-up by Kahleel Ellis-Garica making the score 28-16. Miami Dade managed to force IRSC into quick shots and a couple of costly turnovers and cut the lead to 5 points before Eddie Williams tipped in a rebound at the buzzer making the halftime score 48-41.

Miami Dade got hot from the outside in the second half and quickly erased the Pioneers lead to one 50-49, but Jai Clark answered with one of his on 3's pushing the lead back to four with 17:33 on the clock. The score was tied at 59-59 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the second half and Miami Dade held a one-point lead, 65-64, but Clark got open again from three-point range and connected giving IRSC the lead 67-65. The Pioneers were able to hold off Miami Dade and did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest, finishing with a 91-79 victory.

Micah Johnson had a big afternoon for IRSC finishing with a career high 23 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and 10-10 from the free-throw line. Johnson also dished out 7 assists, pulled in 5 rebounds and recorded 2 steals. Charlie Daniels scored 16 points, followed by DeJuan Lockett and Jai Clark with 14. Daniels and Eddie Williams both pulled in 8 rebounds, while Ellis-Garcia dished out a team high 9 assists.

They will be in action on Saturday, February 16 at 4 p.m., when they travel to West Palm Beach, Florida, to take on Palm Beach State College.