COLUMBIA, Md. - A 21-point deficit was not enough to put away Cecil on Thursday evening, as the Seahawks 52 second half points led to a 85-76 victory over the No. 16 Howard Dragons.
The comeback, epic in its own right, also snapped Howard's 38-game win streak at home that dated back to the 2019-2020 season. It is also the Dragon's first lost this year.
At the forefront of Cecil's second half charge was Vernon Simmons, who scored 20 of his 30 points in the final 20 minutes. Frank Toney and Dominick Carrington combined to score 19 points during this stretch as well. As a team, the Seahawks shot 51% from the field, 50% beynd the arc, and made 14-of-18 free throws in the second half.
With the win, Cecil moves to 5-4 (2-0 MD JUCO) on the season.
Turning Point
Cecil's offense torched Howard for long portions of the second half in order to mount its comeback. However, it was the Seahawks defense that made the difference late, as they held the Dragons to just six points in the final five minutes of the contest.
Box Score Highlights
- Jordan Strickland finished with 10 points and six rebounds
- Darrien Berrios Rivera finished with nine points
- Marlon Lewis and Frank Toney led Cecil with seven rebounds each
- Cecil's bench outscored Howard's reserves, 41-25
- The Dragons attemped just 12 free throws for the game while Cecil had 29
Up Next
The Seahawks return home to face Beaver County this Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m.