Sharks Lean on Offensive Prowess Heading Into Conference Play

Via The Reporter

With the Miami Dade College men's basketball team burrowing into the heart of their conference schedule, the next few weeks will play an integral part in their search for a spot in the playoffs.

The Sharks, who are 11-7, dropped their first two conference games versus Broward College and Indian River State College before getting back on track with a 77-65 win against Palm Beach State College on Jan. 12.

"Conference play is hard," said freshman guard Darius Williams, who leads the team in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game and is adding 5.9 rebounds per contest. "We have to win all those games."

The Sharks are set to face each conference opponent three times.They will only have the comfort of playing at home six out of the 11 conference games. The Sharks have made easy work of their opponents at home, going 6-0 in those games, but they are a lackluster 5-7 at away games.

Williams teams with the veteran duo of Marvin Jeanne-Pierre and Joe Mvuezolo Jr. Jeanne-Pierre is averaging 16.2 points per game, and Joe Mvuezolo Jr. is averaging 14.6 points.  The tandem is also grabbing a combined 12 rebounds per game for the Sharks.

"They do a good job [on this team], with their urgency and the way they prepare." said head men's basketball coach Stephen Cowherd, who called the duo the team's leader.

The trio of Jeanne-Pierre, Mvuezolo Jr. and Williams know they will have to play big in conference for the Sharks to be successful. Williams had a huge offensive game in the victory versus PBSC, scoring 31 points.

"The offense is based on us scoring, so every game we have to get going,"  Jean-Pierre said.

For the Sharks to get into postseason play, they will need more performances like the one Williams had versus PBSC.

The Sharks next conference game will be on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. versus Eastern Florida State College at  the Theodore R. Gibson Health Center, 11011 S.W. 104 St. Admission to all games is free.