EMCC Lions close out pre-Christmas hoops slate with easy 63-41 home triumph over undermanned Baton Rouge club

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College men's basketball team closed out its pre-Christmas slate by cruising to a 63-41 home victory over Baton Rouge Community College Tuesday evening at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.       

The home-standing Lions jumped out to an early 16-4 lead eight minutes into the contest and increased the margin to 21 points (33-21) by the intermission, as EMCC sophomore guard Avery Woodson single-handedly outscored an undermanned Bears club, 14-12, during the opening half of play.

East Mississippi's lead ballooned to as many as 33 points (56-23) following a Justin Kinsey put-back basket at the 7:30 mark.  The final 22-point outcome improved the Lions' record to 5-1 on the year, including a regular-season sweep of Baton Rouge.  EMCC claimed a 75-65 road triumph over the Bears last month (Nov. 19) in Baton Rouge.

Woodson, a University of Memphis signee, was scoreless after halftime but still paced all game scorers with 14 points.  The former Wayne County High School standout has scored in double figures every game this season.  Freshman post player Dennis "D.J." Miles, of Meridian, followed with a season-high 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.  Former McDonald's High School All-American Devonta Pollard, from Kemper County, added nine points and a team-high nine rebounds for the winners.

While suiting up only seven players for the game and falling to 4-12 on the season, Baton Rouge was led by Joshua Ivory and Brian Sylvester with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Head coach Mark White's EMCC Lions now take nearly three weeks off from game action before resuming play, Dec. 30-31, at the Tallahassee Community College Basketball Holiday Classic in Florida.

Coach Sharon Thompson's 5-3 EMCC Lady Lions conclude their pre-holiday hoops slate this Friday (Dec. 13) by welcoming Jones County Junior College to the Scooba campus for a 5 p.m. women's contest at Currie Coliseum.