SUNY-Niagara Pulls Away In Second Half vs. LCCC

December 20, 2025 - - The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team rallied from a 23-point deficit but ultimately fell 97–80 to SUNY Niagara County Community College on Saturday afternoon inside the Ewing Activities Center Gymnasium.

SUNY Niagara built a 50–31 halftime lead after shooting 55 percent from the field in the first half.  LCCC responded with an improved offensive performance after the break, outscoring the Thunderwolves 49–47 in the second half and shooting 56 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes.

The Commodores cut the deficit to five points, 60–55, with just over 13 minutes left in the second half when Tyberious Kovach (Lodi, Ohio/Cloverleaf HS) grabbed a rebound and found Raheem Whitfield-Tucker (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) on the fast break.  LCCC continued to push the margin into single digits following a technical foul on SUNY Niagara, with Aven Kiliean (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) converting 3-of-4 free throws.  SUNY Niagara answered by rebuilding its lead to 20 points with five minutes remaining to secure the win.

LCCC was led offensively by Julian Daniels (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS), who scored a team-high 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.  Jayveon Roe (Euclid, Ohio/ Villa Angela-St. Joseph HS) added 16 points on an efficient 8-of-11 performance from the field and pulled down six rebounds.  Ike Rowser (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Quavion Grant (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview HS) also scored 12 points off the bench.  Kiliean contributed five points and a team-high six assists, and Kovach added seven points and two assists in 15 minutes.

LCCC totaled 18 assists, matched SUNY Niagara with 21 points off turnovers, and scored 44 points in the paint. 

Next Up:

LCCC will travel to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College on Monday, December 22, for its final game of 2025 before returning to action at Butler County Community College on January 3.