Brandon leads Tribunes into title game

ROCHESTER - Majesty Brandon scored a career-high 38 points to lead the MCC men's basketball team to an 88-82 victory over Niagara County Community College in the Region III, Division II semifinals Saturday evening.

The Tribunes (23-5) advance to Sunday's title game, where they will face Erie Community College with a spot at the NJCAA D-2 national tournament on the line.  Monroe was 3-0 against the Kats during the regular season.

Brandon drove the MCC offense all night. The freshman guard was 14-for-21 from the floor and hit six 3-pointers, including two down the stretch that gave MCC a momentary 12-point lead with less than three minutes left.

The Thunderwolves did muster one last effort and closed to within four at 80-76. But the Tribunes were 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 47 seconds to ice the win. Wes Nelson Jr. hit a pair before Gilberto Cue knocked down four straight.  Omari Brown then hit two late.

Brandon scored 18 as MCC led 40-34 at the half. 

Mike Kelly Jr. had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for MCC. Brown finished with nine, while Nelson and Kewan Platt added eight apiece.