Haverhill, MA (November 3, 2018) - The Northern Essex Community College men's basketball dropped a pair of games over the weekend at the NHTI Edward Jones Tap Off Classic to Yankee Small College Conference opponents.

 NHTI 95 - NECC 93

In the season opener, Evan Hardy (Methuen, MA) came off the bench in his collegiate debut to drop a team high 26 points on 9 of 12 shooting including of 8 of 11 from three point range. Second years Tom Jacobs (Tynsborough, MA) and Emir Alagoz (Istanbul, Turkey) both also recorded double digits with 17 points a piece. Guney Kilitcioglu (Istanbul, Turkey) also had 11 points and led the rebounding efforts with seven.

Down 11 points with just 1:40 remaining in the game the Knights made a furious rally and had the final possession of but were unable to get a clean look at the basket. 

For the game the Knights shot 42.7% from the field including 51.7% clip from behind the three point arc.

Central Maine CC 96 - NECC 81

Trey Sanford (Salem, NH) led the Knights in the second game as he came off the bench with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting. Hardy was also in double figures as he recorded 11 points. Jacobs recorded nine rebounds and nine points in the losing effort.

The Knights trailed by six at the half and shot 47.5% from the field for the game.

The Knights will return to the floor on Tuesday evening when they kick off Region 21 action on the road against Benjamin Franklin Institute. First tip is set for 8:00pm on the campus of Simmons College in Boston.

Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors nine varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men's basketball, golf, softball, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field. For more information on Northern Essex Community College Athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics (www.neccknights.com)