Blue Devils blow past Saint Cloud Tech

Published 4:22 pm Saturday, January 30, 2016

Riverland’s Marcus Myers handles the ball for the Blue Devils against St. Cloud Tech in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Riverland’s Marcus Myers handles the ball for the Blue Devils against St. Cloud Tech in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Riverland Community College men’s basketball team put up its best effort of the season as it beat St. Cloud Tech 87-66 in Riverland Gym Saturday.

Riverland’s Darius Bell goes up for a shot against St. Cloud Tech in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Riverland’s Darius Bell goes up for a shot against St. Cloud Tech in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Blue Devils (7-14 overall, 4-5 MCAC) never trailed throughout the day as they held the Cyclones (14-6 overall, 6-2 MCAC) to 30 percent shooting from the field.

RCC had lost three straight games.

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“The biggest difference was on the defensive end of the floor,” RCC head coach Derek Hahn said. “The execution of our defense was huge. When we’ve been getting beat, it’s been our defensive rebounding and tonight our guys worked hard on the glass.”

The Blue Devils had five players score at least 10 points and they out-rebounded St. Cloud 45-33. Marcus Myers had 17 points, five rebounds and six assists on 7-of-11 shooting.

“We need this one a lot to pick up momentum. We had been losing,” Myers said.

Brandon Delvalle gave RCC a big boost as he had 15 points, three rebounds and three steals.

“I think the key was defense and sharing the ball. Whenever we do that, we’re going to have a chanced to win,” Delvalle said. “We’re practicing harder, we’re playing harder and we’re trying to play with a drive.”

Riverland’s Jerome Cummings goes up for a lay-up against St. Cloud Tech. in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Riverland’s Jerome Cummings goes up for a lay-up against St. Cloud Tech. in Riverland Gym Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

SCT 29 37 — 66

RCC 41 46 — 87

RCC scoring: Jerome Cummings, 17; Marcus Myers, 17; Brandon Delvalle, 15; Greg Boyd, 13; Darius Bell, 8; Donte Makazu, 4; Robert Dansby, Jr., 3; field goals: 57 percent (35-for-61); three-pointers: 33 percent (3-for-9); free throws: 64 percent (14-for-22); rebounds: 45 (Boyd, 11); turnovers: 17