McHenry, MD – Under Matt McCullough, the Lakers' goal-setting philosophy has started with qualifying for the NJCAA Division II Region 20 men's basketball tournament. His Garrett College squads can't start checking off goals until that one is complete.
Check that one off the list for the 2024-25 season.
Garrett College held off visiting Prince George's Community College, 83-76, Saturday afternoon to clinch a spot in the regional tournament. Gavin Jackson scored a team-high 20 points and K'Shawn Scott (10 rebounds, two blocks) chipped in 18 as the Lakers clinched their fourth straight winning season in McCullough's four years as head coach.
"We have zero goals that we can accomplish as a team early in the season," observed McCullough, who has a 68-45 record as head coach. "We finally accomplished our first team goal by qualifying for the regional tournament. Now there are bigger goals in front of us."
Garrett (16-8 overall, 7-4 region) blew out to a 37-22 lead in the game's first 16 minutes, but the gritty Owls spent the rest of the game clawing their way back into the contest.
PG's Willie Rivera, Jr. twice pulled the Owls within three points, the last time on two free throws with 59.8 seconds remaining that brought Prince George's within 77-74. Garrett, however, put the game away as Scott converted consecutive transition opportunities into layups and Nasir Coleman (four points, game-high eight assists) split four free throws in the final 18.8 seconds.
McCullough loved the way his team rose to the occasion against a PG squad that appeared better than its 10-10 record.
"All year, our players have had an understanding of what big games mean and how to approach them," said McCullough. "We've been in these situations a lot this season. We've
played a tough schedule to put ourselves in tough situations so that we learn how to respond to them."
Jackson had nine points and Scott contributed six as GC rolled to a 15-6 lead in the game's first five minutes. The Lakers took their biggest lead when Jackson (four assists, three steals) turned a steal into a pull-up 3-pointer that gave GC a 37-22 advantage with 3:44 left in the opening half.
Prince George's pulled within 40-34 at the break as Jailin Landis (game-high 24 points) scored seven points in the final 1:53 of the half. Rivera (19 points) kept the Owls within striking distance throughout the second half, draining a trio of treys while scoring 11 points after the break.
The Lakers, however, refused to fold, answering each PG flurry with one of their own. Stephen Robinson, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds, buried a huge 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:22 remaining that gave Garrett a 77-69 lead and helped the Lakers fight off PG's final comeback attempt.
Notes: Antonio Adams (seven rebounds, two steals) was the fourth Laker in double figures with 15 points. Carmello Myles (game-high 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks) added seven points, all in the second half.
Michael Osuji joined Landis and Rivera in double figures for PG with 12 points.
McCullough praised the playmaking and leadership skills provided by Coleman, who has been working through a shooting slump.
"His presence and his ability to run the show and make so many winning plays today was really important for us," said McCullough.
