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MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM ADVANCES TO NATIONALS

The Henry Ford Community College men’s basketball team advanced to the NJCAA national tournament after stunning upsets in regional play over the weekend against no. 1 seed Oakland Community College and no. 2 seed Mott Community College.

The HFCC Hawks, the no. 3 seed in the District 8 regional tournament, knocked off Oakland (ranked 8th in the nation) on Saturday, 90-87. On Sunday afternoon in Flint, the Hawks rebounded from a 10-point deficit at halftime to take down the two-time defending national champion Mott Bears, 58-56, to capture the regional championship and advance to the nationals.

Hawks’ coach Abe Mashhour was named MCCAA coach of the year. Sophomore guard Willie Mustin earned MVP honors for the regional tournament. Ironically, Mustin was a reserve point guard on Mott’s 2006-2007 national championship team. In the final game against his old teammates, Mustin scored 13 points, had seven rebounds, two assists, and converted all four of his free throw attempts in the second half.

'We couldn’t be more thrilled for Coach Abe Mashhour and the entire team,' said HFCC Athletic Director Nancy Bryden. 'Our team played with skill and with heart, and that propelled them to the championship.'

The NJCAA tournament is Mar. 18 - 21 in Danville, Illinois.