IRSC Men Compete At The National Tournament, Finish The Season 28-5

Hutchinson, Kansas – For the second straight year The Indian River State College (IRSC) Men's Basketball Team competed at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament held in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Things didn't turn out the way the 6^th seeded Pioneers would have liked, but it was a historic season by all accounts.

IRSC received a bye and were automatically in the sweet sixteen where they faced the #11 seeded Triton College with a record of 27-5.  It was a fast-paced game with the Pioneers holding a slight advantage at the half, 40-39.  Triton started the second half with a quick offensive run quickly building a double-digit lead.  Three-point shooting had been a strength for IRSC all season, but in the second half they really struggled to find the basket, shooting 20% in the second half and 24% for the game.  Triton took advantage of their interior players and scored several baskets in the low post, shooting 65.5% from the field in the second half.  The Pioneers continue to battle and made one last charge cutting the margin to six points, but could never get any closer losing 97-84.

Scorers for IRSC were Jonathan Cisse with 18 points, followed by Bendji Pierre 17, Tyeree Bryan 17, A.J. Cajuste 15, and Jacob Tracey with 10.  Pierre had a team high 10 rebounds and Cajuste dished out 9 assists in the contest.

The season was filled with many highlights including a 28-5 overall record, their third consecutive Southern Conference Championship, another trip to the championship game of the NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament, and a trip back to the NJCAA National Tournament.  "This team showed so much determination this season, their accomplishment will not soon be forgotten," stated IRSC Head Coach Charlie Wilson.