A month into the pandemic stricken season the men's basketball team has their first victory. The Thunder went on the road to Madison, SD to take on the Trojans of Dakota State University out of the North Star Athletic Association (NAIA) and came away with a big 72-62 victory. The game started off slowly for the Thunder as they exchanged baskets before two separate runs by the trojans catapulted them their largest lead of the game at 23-13 with under 10 minutes left in the first half. After cutting the lead to three with 6 minutes to go and exchanging a few buckets, MCC would go on their own 13-4 run to finish the half and take a 2 point lead into the halftime break leading 33-31. The second half would start out with more baskets traded, but the Thunder would never relinquish the lead as they were able to build the lead to as many as 18 points with under 5 minutes to go. The final tally would give MCC a ten point victory and their first of the season. 

Jordan White led the Thunder with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He would score all of his points in the second half and go 3/3 from three point land. Tanner Heiden and Nate Awbrey came off the bench to pour in 13 and 10 points respectively while Garrett Harmison started and scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. MCC had a balanced and unselfish attack with 7 guys scoring five points or more and the Thunder earning 22 assists on 30 made field goals. 

The Thunder are back in action this coming Friday and Saturday as they host Central Christian College (KS) on Friday afternoon and Great Lakes Christian College (MI) on Saturday afternoon in the innagural Thanksgiving Classic. 

Starting Friday, 11/27, and running through Saturday, 11/28, MCC men's basketball will host a four team Thanksgiving Classic in Howie's Activity Center. The three teams that will be in attendance along with the Thunder are Great Lakes Christian College (MI), Barclay College and Central Christian College (KS). In a year where there has been so much uncertainty, each of these teams are looking forward to having a chance to get a couple of more games under their belt during this first semester. 

"I think it's a great chance for all four of these programs to play some games," commented Thunder Head Coach, Jordan Strom. "It's been such an up and down year for a lot of us in a lot of different ways I'm pretty confident all of us are just excited to play." 

The games will begin on Friday, 11/27, at 2:00 pm when fellow conference program, Barclay College, takes on NCCAA DII power, Great Lakes Christian College. The Bears from Barclay enter the weekend 3-3 on the young season with region victories over Spurgeon College and Kansas Christian College. Great Lakes Christian College comes to Manhattan with a record of 1-2 through a very difficult NAIA schedule. The 4:30 pm contest on Friday will feature the Thunder taking on the Tigers of Central Christian College out of the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Tigers enter the contest with MCC at 2-0 on the season after victories over Calvary University and Bacone College. Saturday's slate will tip off at 12:00 pm with Central Christian College taking on Barclay College and the 2:30 pm contest will feature the Thunder and Great Lakes Christian College. 

Friday 11/27 - First team listed will be the home team and wear light jerseys

2:00 pm - Barclay vs Great Lakes 

4:30 pm - Manhattan vs Central Christian 

Saturday 11/28 - First team listed will wear light jerseys (Manhattan would still be home)

12:00 pm - Central Christian vs Barclay 

2:30 pm - Great Lakes vs Manhattan 

Admission to the games is free, however, fan attendance is limited in Howie's Activity Center to a total of 100 spectators. All games will be streamed live on the MCC Network. 

Hosting a classic can be tough. Hosting a classic and playing well can be even tougher, but the Thunder proved they were up for the task as they welcomed Barclay College, Central Christian College (KS) and Great Lakes Christian College (MI) to Howie's Activity Center for the first MCC Thanksgiving Classic. On Friday night, MCC took on the tough task of slowing down Central Christian College (KS) out of the Sooner Athletic Conference and the NAIA. The first half of the contest looked like a slug fest as both teams went back and forth with the lead and a two point CCC lead, 35-37, at halftime. In the second half, MCC was able to take control of the contest by identifying shooters and grabbing rebounds. The Thunder had five double figure scorers in the game that led to an impressive 82-63 victory. MCC had 23 assists on 30 made field goals.

In the Saturday contest, MCC would play host to NCCAA power house, Great Lakes Christian College. The contest figured to be a high scoring affair as GLCC boasts two 20+ ppg scorers and has been one of the most prolific offenses over the last three seasons. The game started similar to the contest on Friday night with both teams going back and forth looking to gain control of the contest. MCC would hold a 4 point lead at the half. That lead would baloon to as much as 20 points in the second half before settling at a final margin of 13 points, 91-78. The Thunder again would play an unselfish style of hoops with 6 guys hitting double figures and the team rolling with 24 assists on 33 made field goals. MCC would have a season high with 11 three pointers made in the victory. 

There is no rest for the weary as the Thunder will play their third game in four days on Monday afternoon as they host NCCAA DI, Ecclesia College at 2:30 PM. That will be the final contest for the Thunder as they break for the semester amid COVID precausions. 

The first game back from break can always be challenging and there was no exception to that rule on Wednesday night when both the men's and women's basketball teams welcomed in Champion Christian College for a regional double header. The undermanned women's team kicked things off at 4:00 pm with the Lady Tigers who came into the game with a 3-1 record. The contest started out slowly as the Thunder were able to hold the Champion attack at bay during the first four minutes. Coming out of a timeout, the Lady Tigers roared out to 12-2 run to extend their lead to 21-9 at the end of the first. The second quarter would see MCC play with more poise and balance as the Thunder battled back and forth, cutting into the champion lead before letting the Tigers extend it to 16 at the half. In the second half, Champion would push their lead out to as much as 42 points by the final whistle. The finals score was 43-85. The larges factor in the game was the unforced turnovers as MCC would turn it over 46 times and give up 51 points off of those turnovers. The battle tested Thunder will be back in action on Friday at 9:00 am when they take on the Emmaus Eagles at the conference classic in Kansas City. 

The men's team had similar headlines heading into the game as they were forced to play undermanned with 4 rotation players missing from the action. The Thunder entered the contest on a four game winning streak dating back to the first semester. This game would not have a different outcome as MCC battled back and forth with Champion during the first half, facing a deficeit as large as six points with six minutes remaining in the first half. The Thunder would find themselves down by 1 at the half. In the second half, Champion would come out strong and push the lead up to 5 with fifteen minutes to play. MCC would not fold and battled back to take a six point lead with eight minutes to play. The game saw lead changes 11 times and the score was tied 11 times throughout the game. The Thunder would win by a score of 73-71. Jordan White led the team with 24 points while RJ Johnson and Nate Awbrey would chip in 17 and 15 points respectively. Senior, Isaiah Collier, led the team in rebounds with 10. MCC will be in action on Friday at 10:55 am when they take on Emmaus at the conference classic in Kansas City. 

In the first NCCAA DII Coaches Poll of the 2020-21 season the men's basketball team finds themselves ranked #4 in the nation. The Thunder began the season competing well with opponents outside of the NCCAA, but couldn't find a win until they knocked off Dakota State University out of the NAIA in November. From there, the team has performed more consistently to the tune of a 6-6 record. The Southwest Region is well represented with five teams in the top ten and one more receiving votes. The team is currently on pause because of COVID-19 protocols, but is slated to return to action on January 21, 2021 when they travel to Ankeny, IA to take on Faith Baptist Bible College. 

NCCAA DII Top 10: 

1. Randall University 
2. Barclay College
3. Campbellsville University - Harrodsburg 
4. Manhattan Christian College
5. Kansas Christian College
6. Johnson University - Tennessee
7. Champion Christian College
8. Grace Christian University
9. Trinity Bible College
10. SE Baptist University 

See the full release from the NCCAA here

Three games in three days can be difficult. Three games in three days coming out of 10 days of quarantine with only one practice is a tall task to overcome. The men's basketball team overcame that exact scenario over the weekend in Iowa as they knocked off conference opponents Faith Baptist Bible College (92-66), Emmaus Bible College (86-74) and then Faith Baptist Bible College (91-74) again on Saturday.

The Thunder were able to play a selfless style of basketball as they racked up 58 assists in three games. Each time out, the Thunder spread the basketball around to the tune of three different leading scoreres in three days along with 4 or more double figure scorers in each game. With the wins, MCC moves to 9-6 on the season and 4-0 in conference play. They will be back in action at home on Tuesday as they play host to the #2 ranked Bears of Barclay College.

The men's basketball team held steady in this weeks version of the NCCAA National Coaches Poll coming in at #4. After the last poll was released the Thunder paused team activities for ten days as they observed COVID protocols, but got back after it last weekend in Iowa. MCC knocked off #10 Faith Baptist Bible College twice in three days with Emmaus Bible College sandwhiched between games. The road for the Thunder doesn't get any easier as they welcome #8 Barclay College to Howie's Activity Center tonight for a 7:00 pm tip off. With Barclay and Faith both ranked the Midwest Christian College Conference is well represented, having three teams in the top ten. Along with MCC and Barclay both Randall (#1) and Kansas Christian College (#2) reperesent the Southwest Region. 

NCCAA Top 10: 

#1 Randall University 
#2 Kansas Christian College
#3 Johnson University - Tennessee
#4 Manhattan 
#5 Great Lakes Christian College
#6 Trinity Bible College
#7 Trinity Baptist College
#8 Barclay College
#9 Campbellsville Harrodsburg
#10 Faith Baptist Bible College

To see the full poll and article click here. 

This past week the Lady Thunder traveled to Dubuque, IA to take part in the Mid-West Christian Conference Tournament. As the #6 seed their first opponent was #3 Emmaus Bible College, who earlier in the season beat MCC on a half court shot at the buzzer. Looking to redeem themselves the Lady Thunder came out strong but after the first quarter, the ladies struggled to knock down shots and get defensive stops. Emmaus went on to beat MCC 77-56.

Friday morning, in an elimination game, MCC faced #7 Central Christian College of the Bible. Having another strong start, going up 20-10 after the first quarter, CCCB stuck around but MCC refused to give up the lead. Freshman Roni Harris, who was named to the 2nd Team All-Conference team, lead the team in scoring with 19 points. Darby Cook and Jordan Lewis also chipped in with 16 points each while Tristen Heiden grab 10 rebounds. With a 64-57 win over CCCB, that sent the Lady Thunder into the early morning 5th place game again Faith Baptist College. Two very close game earlier in the year, with FBC coming away with the wins, this constant looked to be a good, but close game.