Archers Bounce Back After Overtime Heartbreaker Against No. 5 Parkland
St. Louis Community College's men's basketball team responded in emphatic fashion Tuesday night, rolling to a 107-57 victory over Missouri Baptist University's JV squad. The win comes just days after a narrow two-point overtime loss to NJCAA No. 5-ranked Parkland College, showcasing the Archers' resilience and depth.
STLCC wasted no time seizing control, opening the game on a 23-4 run fueled by the hot shooting of sophomore guard Zac Goss and relentless team defense. The Archers entered halftime with a commanding 48-20 lead, and the second half brought more of the same as Aman Kesete and Justin Hayes led the charge, scoring 14 and 11 points respectively after the break.
Six Archers finished in double figures:
- Darric Smith – 20 points (game-high)
- Aman Kesete – 14 points
- Justin Hayes – 11 points
- Zac Goss
- Stefan Higgins – 12 points, 14 rebounds (double-double)
- Miyel Taylor – 10 points
Freshman point guard Chris Cole provided a spark off the bench, dishing out nine assists to keep the offense flowing.
Head Coach Terry Collins praised the team's effort while noting areas for improvement:
"It was good to see us take control of the game early. The first time we played MoBap we struggled to expand the lead. Tonight we kept the pressure on. There were still a few let-downs, especially in our transition defense. We need to fix that if we intend to become a championship team."
The Archers hit the road next for a rematch with Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for Friday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. STLCC will then return to Forest Park for two home games to close out the first half of the 2025-26 season.