OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College and North Central Missouri College squared off in a matchup of national ranked programs Saturday in Trenton, Mo., and the No. 13-ranked Cavaliers fell short in their bid upset the No. 3-ranked Pirates, 74-68. 

This is JCCC's second loss on the season, both coming on the road. They are a prefect 10-0 at home.

Down 13 after 20 minutes of action, Johnson County managed to cut their deficit to three in the final minute, but the Pirates knocked down their free throws to close out the game and remain unbeaten. It was also the first time this season that their margin of victory was in single digits. 

Johnson County outrebounded North Central Missouri 41-28 but committed 25 fouls which resulted in 32 free throw attempts for the Pirates. 

The Cavaliers (10-2) were led by freshman guard Gavin Harvey and sophomore guard Steven Samuels. Both players posted career highs in scoring with Gavin pouring in a game-high 23 points followed by 21 by Stevens. 

Gavin was 6-of-9 shooting with a pair of 3-point baskets and went 9-for-13 at the free throw line. Samuels connected on 8-of19 shots, including 5-of-9 beyond the arc.

Sophomore forward Brandon Mann also finished in double figures with 13 points to go along with eight rebounds and freshman forward Tavian Cruse fell one point shy of a double-double, finishing with nine points and a season-high17 rebounds

Tyler King led North Central Missouri with 22 points, followed by Giovanni Mack with 20. 

Johnson County will look avenge its first road loss of the season when they host Western Iowa Tech on Friday, December 13 at 7 p.m.