LocalSportsJournal.com

The Muskegon Community College men’s basketball team let a halftime lead slip away and lost 89-75 to Schoolcraft College in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association championship game on Saturday.

Kyle Ervin Jr. scored 18 first-half points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Jayhawks to a promising 45-40 lead at the break.

But MCC went cold from the floor in the second half, shooting only 31 percent and going seven minutes without a point. Schoolcraft took the lead with about 12 minutes remaining and hung on for the win.

“I’m proud of our effort,” said MCC Coach Dave Schlump. “We just couldn’t get shots to fall in the second half. We got great looks but we just couldn’t get them to fall, and I think that was the difference in the game.

“Now it’s time to focus on playing in the regional tournament and getting to nationals.”

Ervin finished with 22 points for MCC. Sergio Diaz added 17 points, Ricarri Stimage had 13 points while Mike Williams scored 12.

The Jayhawks, now 22-6, will play in an NJCAA regional semifinal game on Thursday in Port Huron against either Grand Rapids Community College or Mid Michigan Community College.