East Mississippi squads complete basketball season sweep of Alabama Southern with home victories Tuesday

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams completed their season sweep over Alabama Southern Community College with a pair of home victories Tuesday night at EMCC's Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.  The Lady Lions claimed the night's opener, 62-49, while the Lions prevailed in the nightcap, 84-61.

EMCC previously opened the current campaign by sweeping Alabama Southern, 71-59 in the women's game and 95-80 in men's action, in Monroeville back on Nov. 4.

To tip off Tuesday's rematch, head coach Sharon Thompson's 3-4 EMCC Lady Lions outscored the visitors, 18-6, over the game's final nine minutes to seal the victory and snap a three-game losing skid.  After trailing, 30-27, at the half, the EMCC women extended a narrow one-point lead to double digits by going on a 16-2 run down the stretch.

Sophomore transfer guard Angeline Earl tallied 14 of her team-high 15 points after the break, including a trio of second-half 3-pointers.  Transfer forward Ashley Johnson registered her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The ASCC women were led by Lakeyia Dejarnette and Amber Roberts with nine points apiece.

In the nightcap, head coach Mark White's 3-1 EMCC Lions held ASCC to 18 second-half points in building upon their slim 49-43 halftime advantage.  Including 9-of-17 three-point shooting in the first half, the EMCC men finished the night hitting 14 shots in 28 attempts from behind the arc.

Former Meridian High School standout Antonio Finley paced four double-digit Lion scorers with 13 points.  In his EMCC debut, Antonio Wilson followed with 12 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting, while Jahyde Gardiner and Dontavius Self added 10 points apiece for the winners.  Freshmen Denarrius Gray and Daniel Simmons added nine points with a trio of 3-pointers each.

The ASCC Eagles put three players in double figures, led by Desmond Williams and Johnny Stallworth with 14 points apiece.  Charlie Wilson followed with 13 points.

The East Mississippi basketball teams will open MACJC North Division play Thursday at Northeast Mississippi Community College with a 5:30 p.m. women's game followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at Bonner Arnold Coliseum in Booneville.  Thursday's division doubleheader is set to be live video-streamed at www.EMCCAthletics.com/live.