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The Vermilion Ironhawks’ run of bad luck continued Wednesday night.
Ahead for much of the contest and by as many as 18 points early in the second half, the community college men’s basketball team stumbled down the stretch and lost 86-80 to Gogebic (Mich.) in nonconference play.
The visiting Samsons scored the last seven points, and a potential game-tying three-pointer from Vermilion clanked off the backboard with about 20 seconds left.
Vermilion, which is 0-5 in Northern Division play and 2-17 overall, led 52-39 at the break and extended the gap to 18 points early in the second half.
But the Ironhawks, who shot 54 percent from the floor in the opening half, cooled in the second stanza and had some costly turnovers as well.
Freshman Roderick Dominique led the Ironhawks with 15 points while teammates Rashad Gatewood and Hamsa Ali finished with 13 points apiece. Judah Pickens was next with 11 points and Jaylen Shelly added nine.
Vermilion made 12 three point baskets in the game.
The Samsons connected from long-range eight times and shot a sizzling 57 percent in the second half. X’Zavion McCoy led with 23 points and teammates Cori Johnson and Enrique Moreno-Bautista chipped in with 18 points each.
• A seven-point halftime lead went by the wayside Saturday, as Hibbing rallied in a division contest and pulled out an 80-76 victory, doing just enough down the stretch to pull things out.
Vermilion’s Mudia Gbowa hit four triples and had a team-high 21 points with eight rebounds. Pickens netted 12 points, Tyson Rogers contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and Shelly wound up with 11 points.
Hibbing’s Daniel Bennett came off the bench and scored 20 for the victorious Cardinals.
• Vermilion returns to division play Saturday, in Virginia, against rival Mesabi.
