EMCC sweeps Northeast, 70-61 and 89-85, in Scooba to successfully tip off second half of division hoops slate

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams opened the second portion of their MACJC North Division slate by sweeping visiting Northeast Mississippi Community College Thursday night at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.  Following the Lady Lions' 70-61 triumph over the Northeast women, EMCC's Lions battled the Tigers to a hard-fought 89-85 victory in the nightcap. 

Thursday's pair of wins over Northeast completed East Mississippi's regular-season sweep over the Tigers, with both EMCC teams having prevailed in Booneville earlier this season (Dec. 4) by scores of 68-64 (women) and 68-58 (men).  The Lions' four-point victory in Scooba extended their series win streak over the Northeast men to 11 consecutive games dating back to the 2010 NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. 

In women's action Thursday, the home-standing Lady Lions broke open a close contest by outscoring the visitors, 17-6, over the final eight minutes of the opening half to take a 32-19 halftime advantage.  EMCC then maintained control throughout the second stanza, extending the margin to as many as 19 points (58-39) following an 8-0 run by the home team. 

Alecha Gibbs, a transfer from Palm Beach Atlantic University, provided an inside presence for the Lady Lions by recording her second double-double of the campaign with season-high totals of 16 points and 11 rebounds.  The Richland High School product hit 5-of-10 shots from the field and 6-of-8 from the line in addition to collecting four offensive boards. 

Snapping a three-game losing skid while improving to 8-9 overall and 4-3 in division play, head coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions also received 14 points from former Columbus High School All-American Ki-Ki Patterson and 11 points from Annessia Durham. 

Falling to 9-9 overall and 3-4 within the division, the Lady Tigers were led Jasmine Allen and Harper Newell with 14 and 13 points, respectively. 

In the nightcap, the Northeast men used a 13-3 spurt late in the opening half to turn a 26-20 deficit into a 33-29 lead.  EMCC freshman Daniel Simmons then helped inject new life into the home-standing Lions by scoring eight of his 10 first-half points over the final two minutes of the half, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that knotted the contest at 37-all by the intermission. 

Midway through the second stanza, the Tigers scored six unanswered points to pull ahead by seven points (69-62) to temporarily gain control.  Culminating with a steal and subsequent 3-pointer by sophomore guard Antonio Finley, the Lions responded with a 7-0 run to tie the contest.  Following a fifth consecutive tie coming at 77-all, EMCC ran off six straight points to move ahead, 83-77, with less than two minutes remaining.  Simmons and Finley combined to make six free throws during that final stretch to help seal the four-point victory. 

Moving to 13-4 overall and 6-1 in division play, head coach Mark White's EMCC Lions are now 32-1 collectively in MACJC North Division home games dating back to the 2009-10 season.  The EMCC men again had four players score in double figures, led by Simmons with 22 points and freshman forward Jahyde Gardiner with 21 on 7-of-11 field-goal shooting.  Finley and freshman guard La'Datren Deas followed with 14 points apiece for the winners. 

The Northeast men, now 12-6 overall and 4-3 in the division after having their eight-game winning streak snapped by EMCC, received a game-high 29 points from Dimario Jackson.  Raheem Sorrell followed with 21 points.   

The East Mississippi basketball teams are set to conclude their week-long home stand by stepping out of MACJC action to play host to Delgado Community College, from New Orleans, Monday evening on the Scooba campus.  A 5:30 p.m. women's game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at EMCC's Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.  Monday's home hoops doubleheader is slated to be video-streamed live on www.EMCCAthletics.com/live.