Jan. 20, 2007

Final Stats

NJC fans who have watched Mike Dominguez this season have been waiting for him to take over a game with his outside shooting. Well wait no longer because Dominguez delivered Friday night with 28 points, hitting seven of the 10 three pointers he attempted.

The freshman from Espanola, N.M., couldn't have picked a better time for a coming-out party as he lifted an NJC team that was struggling to get it going early.

"He had a great game and he obviously shot the ball, lights out," NJC Assistant Coach D'Marr Suggs said. "This is something we knew he could do all along. Tonight he just showed his talent and he showed how deadly a shooter he really is."

Suggs complimented some of the other, "little things," Dominguez contributed that the fans may not have noticed.

"People don't realize that he sets himself up to get those shots," Suggs said. "He finds the 'soft spot' to get those good looks. He also disrupted McCook's offensive flow by reading their plays and anticipating their passes. I thought he had a great two days (against Western Nebraska and McCook)."

NJC outscored McCook, 40-24, in the second half en route to a 75-55 victory at home in Jackson-Edwards Arena.

The first half went back and forth with the Plainsmen taking a 35-31 lead into the locker room. Coach Eddie Trenkle's team made some key outside shots and continued to get to the free-throw line in the second half to run away from McCook and gain an Region IX victory.

The Plainsmen got to the free-throw line 23 times in the second half, compared to earning just nine trips in the opening period. Omar Leary hit 10-of-12 free throws on his way to 18 points for the game.