Blazers Escape Eastfield, Finish Second in DAC

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College North Lake's men's basketball team will finish second in the Dallas Athletic Conference, following Saturday's 65-64 win over Dallas College Eastfield on NLC TV.

The Blazers reached the .500 mark overall with two games remaining in the regular season. North Lake (14-14, 9-4 DAC) will play at Dallas College Brookhaven 6 p.m. Wednesday before hosting league regular season champion and 11^th-ranked Dallas College Richland 1 p.m. Saturday on NLC TV.

North Lake will receive a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III quarterfinal bye before playing the highest remaining seed in the postseason tournament semifinals 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Richland.

North Lake's Autavius Hobbs grabbed an offensive rebound in the last minute, and was fouled. He found Anden Holmes in the corner for a 3-pointer that delivered the knockout blow in Saturday's win. Holmes finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. His 21 points matched his career high. He connected on three of North Lake's five triples.

The Blazers shot 19 of 47 from the field for 40.4 percent. They struggled from the perimeter, going 5 for 17, and the free throw line, where they were 22 of 36.

North Lake overcame a seven-point halftime deficit after Eastfield (6-20, 4-9) got out to a 28-21 lead. And while the Blazers outscored the Harvester Bees 44-36 in the second half, Eastfield had last-second shot opportunities to extend the game or squeak out a win.

David Clower finished with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and a block. Hobbs had 10 points and two steals, while going 4 for 4 from the free throw stripe. Adonai Rezene had eight points and three assists.

North Lake improved to 8-4 at home.

The Blazers are seeking their third straight 10-win conference season.