Pioneer Men Open up Conference Season with Big Win

University Center, Michigan -  

The Delta College men's basketball team started off the MCCAA Eastern Conference season with a convincing 112-68 victory over the visiting Alpena Community College Lumberjacks.     

The Pioneers came out with intensity on the defensive end and got off to a hot start.   A DoMariye Lloyd alley-oop dunk followed up by a Mason VanPamel three pointer pushed the lead to 19-4 at the 14:40 mark of the first half.  The Lumberjacks then went on a run of their own and cut the Pioneer lead down to five at the midway point of the half.  That would be as close as they would get as back to back three pointers by Andrew Miller and Trey Newsham pushed the lead back to eleven with six minutes left.  The Pioneers would then end the half on a 22-11 run and head into the locker room up 64-42.            

In the first two minutes of the second half, the Pioneers went on a 10-0 run and expanded their lead to 74-42.  Pioneer point guard, Manny Dosanjh, then guided the home team to the victory down the stretch.  He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists all of which coming in the second half.      

"We had a four minute stretch in the first half that we got away from the game plan," said head coach Carlos McMath.  "Overall, I was pleased with the outcome but we still need to be focused and play a consistent forty minutes of basketball."    

The Pioneers had a balanced scoring attack and every Pioneer got in the scoring column.  They were led by Jon Swift with 18 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals.  Allante Wheeler added 17 points.  Torion Wilson and Mason VanPamel chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.    

"Every game we play in conference is crucial," said McMath.  "We need to be prepared game in and game out because each team brings a different challenge to the table."

The Delta Men's basketball team (5-4, 1-0) will host Wayne County Community College (6-4, 0-1) on Saturday.  Game time is 3:00 at Pioneer Gymnasium.