The Joliet Junior College men’s basketball team saw its season come to end in heartbreaking fashion as it dropped an 83-82 decision to Community College of Rhode Island in the consolation bracket of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Tournament on Friday in Rockford.
JJC held a nine-point lead with nine minutes remaining in the game, but four minutes later the lead had been erased by Rhode Island. The teams traded the lead back and forth the rest of the way, but when Rhode Island’s Richard Pina knocked down a shot with 23 seconds to play, JJC wasn’t able to answer.
Luke Morrow had a huge night for JJC, scoring 29 points, while Jhei-R Jones (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Brandon Shoemaker (12 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles.
Joliet, which went 1-2 at nationals, finished the season with a 27-6 record.