Late defensive stand secures EMCC's 67-65 road win over Itawamba; Lady Lions fall 67-62 to ICC women

FULTON – Daniel Simmons' game-saving blocked shot at the buzzer lifted the East Mississippi Community College men's basketball team to a 67-65 road victory over rival Itawamba Community College during Thursday's MACJC North Division action played at the Davis Event Center.  The division-leading ICC women held on for a 67-62 triumph over EMCC's Lady Lions to tip off the evening's hoops activity.

With the home-standing Indians trailing by a basket with 4.3 seconds remaining in the game, ICC's Dee Gates drove the ball deep into the lane but was met by EMCC's Jontavius Baker to stop his penetration to the rim.  On backside defense, it was Simmons who swatted away the potential game-tying bucket to preserve the Lions' opportunity of playing for another regular-season division title.

A freshman from Biggersville, Simmons' defensive heroics during Itawamba's "Sophomore Night" festivities was displayed on the offensive side of the floor as well.  Along with his two blocks and four steals on the night, Simmons registered his second double-double in the past three games with team-high totals of 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Indians.

The dramatic two-point road win for head coach Mark White's 17-4 East Mississippi squad improved its co-leading division mark to 9-1 heading into Monday's much-anticipated scheduled rematch with Holmes Community College in Scooba.  Bidding for their fifth MACJC North Division regular-season championship in six seasons, EMCC's Lions will also be seeking to avenge their 90-80 road setback to the Holmes Bulldogs three weeks ago (Jan. 22) in Goodman.

Prior to the contest's thrilling final seconds, the visitors extended their 37-34 halftime lead to seven points on consecutive inside baskets by freshman forward Jahyde Gardiner, who battled illness and foul trouble all evening.  A subsequent 14-3 run by the Indians gave them their first lead of the game four minutes into the second stanza.

With the Indians on top by five points (56-51) at the 7:40 mark following a 3-pointer by Tyrone Wooten, EMCC's Shelvick Henry Jr. countered with a clutch trey of his own to help stop ICC's momentum.  Nearly four minutes later, three-time MACJC Player of the Week Antonio Finley drained a 3-pointer that gave the Lions the lead (60-58) for good to help set up the late-game dramatics.

Finley, a Meridian High School product, finished with a dozen points on four made treys, while Pascagoula's La'Datren Deas followed with 11 points to help propel the EMCC men to their sixth regular-season sweep over Itawamba in the past seven years.

Dropping to 7-15 overall and 3-8 within the division, the Indians received a game-high 22 points from Wooten.  Howard Thomas followed with 15 points for ICC.

In the women's game, the front-running Lady Indians broke open a close contest by scoring 10 unanswered points late in the half to extend a 10-point lead to 20 points (39-19) by the 4:19 mark.  With Jayla Chills leading the way with 16 first-half points, the ICC advantage stood at 17 points (46-29) heading into the halftime break.

Despite Itawamba maintaining a double-figure lead for most of the second half, the Lady Lions battled to the very end.  Ashley Johnson's baseline drive capped a 9-0 EMCC spurt that cut the deficit to single digits (61-52) with three minutes remaining.  The visitors capitalized on a few missed 1-and-1 free throw opportunities by the home team down the stretch to trim the margin to five points by game's end.  

Falling to 10-11 overall and 5-5 in division play, head coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions were led by Camry Jones' 16 points.  Former Columbus High School All-American Ki-Ki Patterson and Tupelo's Bre Jernigan added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Improving to 19-3 overall and 10-1 atop the MACJC North Division women's standings, ICC's Lady Indians were led by Alontra Tucker's game-high 19 points.  Chills finished with 18 points for the winners.

For the final week of the regular season, the East Mississippi basketball teams are set to play host to Holmes during Monday's "Sophomore Night" doubleheader on the Scooba campus.  With the MACJC North Division regular-season men's championship essentially on the line, a 7:30 p.m. men's contest will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. women's game at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.  EMCC will conclude the regular season on the road Thursday against Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.