The North Central Missouri College men's basketball team struggled from the field on Wednesday night, shooting just 33 percent overall and 27 percent from three-point range, in falling to Wentworth Military Academy, 68-61 at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton.

North Central managed only 18 points in the first half, and trailed by nine points at the break. The second half proved to be higher-scoring, but frustrating for the Pirates, who only managed to slice two points off of the lead.

The loss drops NCMC's overall record to one game below .500, and the Pirates Region 16 mark to 2-2. Jacob Powell led WMA with 20 points, while Andre Scott and Trevor Decker both scored 11. For the Pirates, Marshon Norfleet had 13 points and Darreon Parker 12 (on 4 of 10 three-point shooting). Reggie Maxwell and Eric McDaniel both scored nine points, with Skyler Harris chipping in eight.

The North Central women and men are next in action on MONDAY night, February 11th, hosting a pair of games at the Ketcham Center. The Lady Pirates take on Marshalltown, Iowa at 5:30, with the Pirate men battling the Central College (Iowa) JV at 7:30. Both games will be broadcast LIVE on Hot Country Z 101.7 and www.kgozfm.com. Important Region 16 road trips loom on the February schedule for NCMC, including a trip to St. Louis on Saturday, February 16th to take on the Archers. The women's game that day is at 1 o'clock, with the men's game at 3 o'clock, also on Hot Country Z 101.7 and www.kgozfm.com.

NCMC's first annual "Alumni Games" will be held this Saturday night (February 9th) at the Ketcham Center. The women's game is at 5 o'clock with the men to follow. Admission to the games will be a free-will donation, with proceeds to benefit this year's NCMC Pirate teams.

Lady Pirates from the past committed to play are Kristen Buhrmeister, Amber Burger (Vandevender), Megan Epperly (Doty), Jordan Ewigman, Theresa Hunsaker, Cassie Hunt, Melissa McGinley, Rochelle Morgan (Davitt), Jillian Palan, Candace Schatz, Jessica Stonecypher (Prewitt), Rachel Stump (Mead), and Leslie Wyatt. Theresa Hunsaker will be an honorary coach.

Those expected to play in the men's game are Rich Allen, Jared Boone, Byron Bundy, David Elliott, Barry Ford, Cedric Ganaway, John Hawkins, Eric Howard, Cortez Jeffries, Jared Kelly, Kyle Larson, Alex "Buck" Miller, Brad Nicholson, Martin Roper, Josh Stockman, T.J. Wesley, and Antoine Wilkinson. Bill Ausmus, NCMC Pirate coach from 1967 to 1972, will be the honorary coach.