Campus News

March 20th, 2026

Top-seeded Dundalk eliminates Lakers

Lions' relentless defense plays key role in regional quarterfinal

Dundalk, MD – Top-seeded Community College of Baltimore County-Dundalk has built its success this men's basketball season on suffocating defense. That reputation was burnished during the first half of last Tuesday night's 86-59 NJCAA Division II Region 20 quarterfinal win against eighth-seeded Garrett College.

The visiting Lakers held Dundalk (24-5) to 36 first-half points – but still found themselves down 14 at the break. That's because the Lions limited Garrett (16-14) to 27 percent shooting from the field – including 1-of-12 from beyond the arc – while holding the Lakers scoreless for the final 5:08 of the opening half.

"We knew they'd be very good defensively," said GC head coach Matt McCullough, whose Lakers had dropped a 66-57 regular-season contest to Dundalk three days earlier. "We expected that. We just didn't shoot the ball well again from the perimeter."

Walta Berhane scored a game-high 16 points and Victor Ezeh added 15 as four Lions reached double digits and seven scored at least eight points. Nehemiah Johnson (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Keyonta Johnson (12 points, six rebounds, three assists) were the only Lakers to reach double figures.

GC started strong, bolting to a 9-3 lead. Dundalk responded with a 22-11 surge, but the Lakers were within three points (25-22) after Lenny Smith's layup with 5:08 remaining in the first half.

Garrett, however, wouldn't score again before intermission. Berhane had seven of his nine first-half points and Ezeh scored four of his five points before the break during Dundalk's 11-0 scoring binge to end the half.

Dundalk then opened the second half with a 12-6 run that stretched its lead to 48-28.

The Lakers gamely responded with a 9-0 surge of their own as Keyonta Johnson's three-point play and layups from Smith (eight points, four rebounds), Petar Kos (nine points, five rebounds), and Nehemiah Johnson got GC within 48-37. Dundalk, however, answered with a 15-6 streak capped by an Ezeh tip-in that rebuilt the Lions' lead to 63-43 with 7:38 remaining.

"Every time we cut into their lead, they seemed to have an answer," said McCullough, adding, "They're a good team."

Dundalk finished with a 37-13 edge in points off turnovers after forcing 24 Laker turnovers compared to 13 for the Lions.

The Lions' largest lead was 30 points (78-48), but McCullough was impressed that his squad never let up.

"The guys continued to fight hard," said McCullough.

GC, 6-8 after a loss to Prince George's Community College, won 10 of its next 13 to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in McCullough's five years as head coach.

"We kind of had a choice to make after our loss to Prince George's," recalled McCullough, who has guided the Lakers to five straight winning seasons. "Our guys came together and were able to find some success."