Men's Basketball To Face #1 Seed Raritan Valley CC in Region 19 Playoffs

 

For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, MCCC men’s basketball has qualified for the Division II Region 19 Playoffs.  The Vikings are one of just four teams to qualify along with Raritan Valley CC, CC of Morris and Middlesex CC. 

 

Mercer will enter the playoffs as the #4 seed and travel to #1 Raritan Valley for a 7:00 PM game on Tuesday, February 27^th.  Raritan Valley is 22-6 and 9-3 in Region play while the Vikings are 13-12 and 6-6 in Region  games.  On December 2^nd, the Vikings lost at Raritan Valley in overtime, 87-90.  On January 25^th, Mercer hosted Raritan Valley and lost 76-84.  The Vikings had a 45-39 lead at the half, but were outscored 45-31 in the second half.  Sophomore Izaiah Johnson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington City) led the Vikings with 21 points in the January 25^th loss.

 

Johnson is one of four Viking players averaging double digits in scoring this season.  Johnson is averaging 13.4 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game.  Sophomore Justin Carbone (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) is averaging 13.4 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game and shooting 53% percent from the field.  Sophomore Jason Mark (Broward, FL/Blanche Ely HS) is averaging 10.4 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game.  Mark has eight double doubles on the season and was most recently named GSAC Division II Player of the Week.  Freshman Jayson Love (Philadelphia, PA/Academy at Palumbo) is the fourth Viking to average double digits in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 52% from the field.

 

The Vikings continue to get very balanced play and contributions from both their starters and players off the bench.  Freshman guard Darius Bland (Willingboro, NJ/Florence Township Memorial) is averaging 7.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game and shooting 48.6% from the field.  Sophomore Isham McClain (Pemberton, NJ/Pemberton HS) is averaging 6.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per game and is shooting 50% from three point range and overall.  McClain scored 20 points on Sophomore Night vs Lackawanna to help the Vikings clinch a playoff spot for the first time in five years.

 

Sophomore Kristian Smith (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) continues to contribute valuable minutes for the Vikings either in the starting lineup or off the bench.  Smith is shooting 50% from three point range and 51% overall and averaging 3.5 points per game.  Sophomore Anthony Rhodes (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) continues to provide a spark off the bench for Mercer, hitting 51.4% of his shots and shooting 50% from three point range.  Freshman guard Joe Lemly (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) has also added quality minutes for the Vikings, averaging 2.9 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per game.  Freshman Justin Murray (Florence, NJ/Westampton Tech) has been a solid defender and rebounder off the bench for the Vikings.

 

The Vikings will look for the continued leadership and strong play of their sophomores along with quality minutes and contributions from their freshman players as they look to take down the #1 seed Raritan Valley in their third meeting of the season.  

 

For the latest on men’s basketball season and schedule, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_basketball.shtml