MC Holds Off Allegany for Last Second Win

Montgomery College Raptors battled fiercely against the Allegany College of Maryland Trojans in a thrilling matchup, overcoming a tight first half and staging an electrifying second-half comeback. 

The game opened with Montgomery capitalizing on a technical foul, as Christopher Levy sank a free throw to give the Raptors an early 1-0 lead. Allegany responded quickly with a layup from Jaylen Brown, setting the tone for a back-and-forth contest. Ibrahim Abdulmateen's offensive efforts kept Montgomery in the fight, while Allegany's Alex Byrd and Caiden Chorpenning hit key shots to push their team ahead. The Raptors clawed back with crucial plays from Isaiah Gill and Sebastian Dokum, keeping the game within reach. Christopher Levy's three-pointer brought Montgomery within two late in the half, but Allegany maintained a slim lead. A strong defensive effort and clutch free throws from Franklin Ayissi-Etoh helped Montgomery stay in striking distance, setting up an intense second half. 

Starting the second half, Franklin Ayissi-Etoh provided a much-needed spark for Montgomery. His layups at the 14:31 and 13:50 marks helped chip away at Allegany's lead, setting the tone for the comeback. Christopher Levy also made a crucial impact, draining a three-pointer at 14:05 and assisting Ayissi-Etoh's layup moments later, cutting the deficit to single digits. Mateusz Szpin was a force in the paint, securing multiple rebounds and finishing key plays, including a powerful dunk at 13:30 that ignited the Gymnasium atmosphere. Szpin's layup at 10:27 further narrowed the gap, while Ian Pascal's free throws at 10:39 brought Montgomery within striking distance. Defensively, Jordan Alphonso delivered a critical block at 7:27, denying an Allegany layup attempt that could have extended their lead. On the other end, Ayissi-Etoh continued his offensive surge, hitting a jumper at 7:41 to keep Montgomery within reach. As the game reached its final minutes, the Raptors tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on fast breaks. Levy and Ayissi-Etoh orchestrated the offense, while Szpin dominated the boards. With relentless energy and the clutch knock down three-pointer from Chris Levy, Montgomery College stormed back to clinch the victory in the final moments, sealing a memorable win. 

This game showcased the resilience and determination of Montgomery College, with standout performances from Levy who finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assist, and 2 steals. Ayissi-Etoh who finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assist, and 2 steals. And Szpin who had 20 rebounds paired with 10 points and 2 assists. With a final score of 70-69. Their late-game heroics proved decisive, marking an incredible comeback victory that will be remembered for seasons to come.