The Highland men's basketball team wrapped up their fourth Classic tournament of the season by splitting a pair of games against Central and Southeast Community Colleges on Friday and Saturday.
Scotties overcame a 13-point deficit against Central to earn the 83-77 win and then lost a close battle with Southeast falling 82-76.

It started slow on Friday for the Scotties as Highland fell behind 15-2 over the first five minutes of the contest against Central but the offense woke up for the Scotties as Highland went on a 12-3 to cut the Central lead down to four. An Aguek Deng three-pointer tied the game up at 28-28 with just under six minutes to play in the first half, while the Scotties swung the lead their way at 30-28 with around five minutes before intermission and went on to lead 39-37 at the half.

The lead grew to double figures early in the second half for Highland but Central hung tough and getting to within four points in the final minutes of the game but the Scotties iced the contest away securing the 83-77 win.

For the tenth time this season Highland shot over 40% in a contest shooting 48.5% from the floor while also going 15-20 from the free throw line and recording 10 or less turnovers for the ninth time in a game this season with only nine turnovers in the win.

Marquise Milton continued his scoring show this season going 10-19 from the floor and 6-8 from the free throw line for 26 points marking his sixth straight 20+ point performance, seventh on the season. Deng added his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Dylan Vincent chipped in 15 points and Rashon Johnson added 12 points and seven rebounds.

On Saturday the Scotties took on the host of the Classic in Southeast and got all they could handle from the Storm. Scotties opened the game with the first two buckets but Southeast answered with an 8-0 run to lead 8-4. Highland was not rattled as the Scotties mounted a 10-0 that ultimately helped the Scotties make it a 29-15 left in their favor in the first half. By the time halftime rolled around the Scotties were still in the drive seat and took a 37-32 advantage into intermission.

Second half saw the lead swing to Southeast as the Scotties fell down 41-40 early in the second half and that deficit for Highland grew to 14 points at one-point trailing 66-52. Highland pushed back and drew within two points in the final minute of the game but were unable to overcome the deficit falling 82-76 on the road.

Scotties shot under 40% for only the fourth time this season shooting 33.8% from the floor despite draining 14 three-pointers. Highland did have 16 assists on 25 made field goals and only turned the ball over nine times while forcing 16 turnovers but Southeast shot 44.4% from the floor on the night.

In the loss Milton tallied his seventh straight 20+ point performance finishing with 23 points including 6-10 from three-point range, while Trey Twa posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, his second double of the season. Jaron Flowers chipped in 17 points with two rebounds and two assists and Zyon Smith had 10 points.

The 1-1 showing at the Southeast Holiday Classic moves the Scotties to 11-3 on the season with only two games remaining before the Christmas break as Highland will compete at the JCCC Classic on December 13^th and 14^th in Overland Park, Kansas against Iowa Western and #2 North Iowa Area. (Both games will be live streamed on the Scottie Sports Network)