On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the NECC Knights defeated Bunker Hill Community College Bulldogs 87 to 77 for their first conference division game of the season and improved to 3-0 overall during the season.

Before the game I asked NECC Basketball head coach, Coach Darren Stratton how he managed a conference division game vs non conference.

“Every game matters,” Coach Stratton said. “This game is more significant coming towards our overall record and as far as our regional record goes, I might be tonight tied in the bench to see how it goes and not goes as deep but which looks toward any other game and hopefully we tried to improve what we did over the weekend and hopefully to improve it to conference game,” said Stratton.

The Bulldogs were ranked number five in the nation preseason coming into tonight’s game. I asked Coach Stratton how scary the Bulldogs can be and what the Knights can do to stay focused and still get a victory in the road?

“I think we just got to play our type of game we can’t let them slow us down … they have a huge size advantage against us, their point guard is an All Region player first team so we need a lot in our group to try to control him. They beat a very good Bronx team in New York over the weekend so we are looking forward towards the challenge and I think my guys will be up for the challenge for tonight,” he said.

The game officially started at 6:05 p.m.

Bulldogs won the tipoff against the Knights.

Bulldogs struck first scoring the first four points during the game.

Phillip Cunningham of Haverhill scored a two pointer followed by two three pointer by Cristian Kinsley of Lawrence to put this game 8 to 4 in favor of the Knights.

The Bulldogs had four fouls in the first six minutes of the game.

Jeremiah Melendez of Lawrence scored a two pointer for the Knights to make this game 13 to 12 in favor of the Bulldogs, the next possession that the Knights had Melendez put the Knights on top as they were up by one.

Luis Reynoso of Lawrence made one of two in as the Knights increased their lead by two.

Bulldogs Osa Irlowen of Milton put the Bulldogs ahead 18 to 17.

Melendez was in the free throw line where he tied the score up at 18 a piece.

The Bulldogs made it 20 to 18 after the Knights tied the game at 20.

Melendez passed the ball to Kevin Monteiro of Sommerville to put the Knights up 22 to 20. In the next possession Melendez increased the Knights lead by four.

The game was tied at 26 when Reynoso with a lay up put the Knights up 28 to 26. Cunningham made it 30 to 28. Edwin SamMbaka of Paris, France made it 32 to 28.

The Knights kept them self in distance against the Bulldogs by going on a 21 to 2 run to end the first half.  

The Knights were up 49 to 28 when they went into their locker room at the half. Bulldogs had 10 fouls and the Knights six.

“I thought that was the key, we finished the half on a 21-2 run but then in the second half I believe they open up on a 13 to 1 run. I mean we can’t have that inconsistency, if you want to be a championship team you have to have consistency,” said Coach Stratton.

Forty nine points, that is the most the Knights have scored in one period during the course of the season.

In the second half Bulldogs ended that run by playing more aggressive and Bulldogs battle through.

Bulldogs had two different runs in the second period.

13 to 1 run and a 24 to 2 run.

“Our energy just dropped we didn’t rebound we didn’t push the ball in the floor but then they got back to say,” said NECC Knight basketball player Ryan Pacy.

The Knights weren’t playing aggressive basketball, they were playing sloppy defense and were not executing during that run that the Bulldogs had.

The Knights were missing a lot of free throws and they weren’t executing the way they wanted.

“We missed a lot of free throws and our executing wasn’t good, our executing got to be much better and I think we can learn from this, I am just glad that we came in the winning side,” Coach Stratton said.

The Knights scored the next four points to make it 66 to 59.

Mehmet Asik “R2” of Ankara, Turkey was in the free throw line when the Knights were up 69 to 65 Asik made two free throws in to make it 71 to 65.

The Knights increased their lead to 76 to 65.

SamMbaka nailed down a three for the Knights to put this game 79 to 70.

The Knights defeated Bulldogs 87 to 77. In the second half the Knights had eight fouls and Bulldogs 14.