Bradley's 31 points lead No. 8 EMCC to 89-69 home win over Meridian

SCOOBA – Jarekious Bradley's game-high 31 points paced the eighth-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College to an 89-69 home victory over Meridian Community College Thursday night at EMCC's Keyes T. Currie Coliseum. 

Bradley, a transfer from Midland College in Texas, helped stake the Lions to a 13-1 lead by the 11:38 mark after scoring on a put-back basket followed by a thunderous fast-break dunk.  Though not clicking on all cylinders offensively early in the contest, EMCC's stifling defense created the early advantage.  After allowing the Eagles to just five made free throws during the opening 10 minutes of play, Meridian didn't record its first made field goal until Aubrey Humphrey scored on a driving basket with 9:22 left in the first half.

Bradley's 16 first-half points helped lift East Mississippi to a comfortable 47-28 halftime advantage.  The Lions were never challenged during the second stanza and maintained their sizeable margin throughout the closing period.  The 20-point victory marked EMCC's seventh straight series win over Meridian on the hardwood dating back to the 2009-10 season.

Micah Walker followed Bradley with 14 points, while Brandon's Trey Brown and Starkville's Jacolby Mobley added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the winners.  Bradley, a product of Memphis East High School, hit 13-of-19 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while adding eight rebounds and four blocks.

Falling to 0-3 on the year, Meridian's lone scorer in double figures was Humphrey with 16 points.

The East Mississippi basketball teams stay at home for their final home action of the 2012 calendar year on Monday (Nov. 12).  Head coach Sharon Thompson's 1-2 EMCC Lady Lions will meet Shelton State Community College, while head coach Mark White's 2-0 EMCC Lions entertain Baton Rouge Community College.  A 5:30 p.m. women's game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at EMCC's Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.