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MCC hosts Southeastern in men’s regional opener

The Marshalltown Community College men’s basketball team will see an opponent it’s gone toe-to-toe with twice earlier this season and come out a winner on the other side, tonight in the NJCAA Region XI first round at the Student Activity Center.

The Tigers (17-11, 3-5 ICCAC) will take on Southeastern Community College for a chance to advance and play No. 1-seed Indian Hills on Wednesday in the regional tournament. The Tigers have tipped the scales on the Blackhawks (13-16, 0-8 ICACC) twice during the regular season 75-67 and 90-86.

The main factor for the Tigers will be freshman Mohamed Thiam and his ability to dominate the inside game as he did in the previous two meetings.

On Jan. 14, Thiam had a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the first meeting, and helped lead the Tigers on a come-from-behind win in the second half.

In their second meeting at home, Thiam led the way once again with 19 points and 18 rebounds in his 13th double-double of the year on Feb. 1. Brandon Simmons helped out the effort that night with 16 more points and seven boards.

The 6-foot-8 forward has an inside game that will be pivotal for the Tigers to utilize. Shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, Thiam also has a long-range shot and the ability to give the Tigers a lift, need be. Thiam is a 31.2 percent 3-point shooter this season.

The Tigers got three conference wins, sweeping the Blackhawks while taking the regular-season finale from Northeast, a 77-76 win.

Should Marshalltown CC win tonight, the Tigers will move on to play No. 16 (and top-seeded) Indian Hills on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Ottumwa.

Marshalltown CC hosts Southeastern at 7 p.m. tonight at the Student Activity Center.

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