Roadrunners upset Moberly, win fourth consecutive game

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Roadrunners men's basketball team closed the regular season with a 59-53 victory over 23^rd ranked Moberly Area Community College on Wednesday, Feb. 25 inside the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center. The game featured five lead changes and five ties.

SFCC (16-14, 7-5 in Region 16) took a 33-25 lead into halftime behind the good shooting first half of sophomore guard Gavin Q Murphy of Calabasas, Calif. Murphy scored 14 points in the opening half.

"He is one of the best shooters in the country," said Roadrunners head coach Jeremy Jackson. "If he has a glimpse of daylight there's a good chance it's going in."

Moberly came back to tie the game at 36 with less than 16 minutes remaining in the contest. State Fair held a 44-42 with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. SFCC pushed their advantage to 52-46 with about three minutes remaining after a pair of offensive rebounds led to a basket from freshman wing JP Ndong of Germany/Senegal.

Moberly fought back to take a 53-52 lead with about a minute remaining in the game.

Freshman guard/wing Andin Ashford of Wilkesboro, N.C. drove in for a layup to give the Roadrunners the lead back at 54-53 with 40 seconds remaining. Ashford was not done. He received a full-court pass and made the layup. Ashford was fouled on the play. He made the free throw to finish the old-fashioned three-point play to give SFCC the 57-53 advantage. Ashford made two more big free throws to help seal victory.

"We did not quit at all tonight," said Jackson. "We've been through so much adversity this year and we're all still here together. We were just able to chip into the lead together. I think all the tight games we've been in really helped us tonight. Andin has really learned how to close out games. He brought it all night."

Ndong led SFCC in scoring with 22 points. Murphy contributed 16. Ashford chipped in with 12.

SFCC will be the third seed and take on second-seeded Three Rivers on Thursday, March 5 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. in the Region 16 Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics