EMCC Lions can't recover from halftime deficit in falling 61-59 to Southwest Mississippi in MACJC state tourney semis

FULTON – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College couldn't quite make it all the way back from a 10-point halftime deficit in dropping a 61-59 decision to Southwest Mississippi Community College during Wednesday's semifinal-round action of the MACJC State Basketball Tournament being played at the Davis Event Center on the Itawamba Community College campus.

Seeded fourth out of the MACJC's North Division, EMCC came out sluggish offensively in the first half and didn't get on the scoreboard until reserve Montrael Nabors hit a 3-pointer at the 15:39 mark.  Despite their slow start, the Lions knotted the score at 10-all six minutes into the game following a Nat Dixon three-point play and a put-back basket by Juan Davis Jr.

With only seven made field goals in 25 attempts (28%) through the opening 20 minutes of play, EMCC's offensive woes continued for the remainder of the half.  The SMCC Bears, seeded third out of the MACJC's South Division, outscored the Lions, 20-10, over the final 14 minutes of the half to take a 30-20 halftime advantage.

The Lions came out of the locker room after the break looking like a completely different team on offense in particular.  Ignited by back-to-back 3-pointers from Dixon and Jahyde Gardiner, EMCC scored 11 of the first 13 points of the second stanza to cut the deficit to a single point (32-31) just four minutes into the half.

To their credit, the Bears seemed to have an answer each time EMCC attempted to take the lead.  After the two teams traded baskets during the early portion of the second half, Southwest re-established control of the game by taking a 57-48 lead with 6:09 remaining in the contest.  The Lions responded by taking the ball to the basket to generate some offense.  Though struggling from the field on just 1-of-9 shooting for the game, EMCC sophomore guard Daniel Simmons converted six consecutive free throws to set up Gardiner's game-tying (59-59) basket with 1:35 left.

EMCC then forced a turnover on a double team defensively and had a couple of late chances to take the lead for the first time in the contest.  However, the Lions could not connect on two attempts at the basket.  Southwest collected the rebound and called for a timeout with 7.4 seconds left.  Sophomore forward Terrell Miller powered underneath for an inside basket with just 4.7 ticks remaining on the game clock.

Following a pair of EMCC timeouts and with the Lions having to go the full length of the court, Simmons' potential game-winning 3-pointer just inside midcourt bounced off the front of the rim to advance Southwest to Thursday's championship game against the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal contest pitting Mississippi Gulf Coast and Jones County. 

Improving to 16-8 overall with the victory, the SMCC Bears were paced by Miller's double-double effort of 20 points and 13 rebounds.  Lafayette Rutledge added 17 points, while Mario Doyle contributed 10 points off the bench for the winners.

Falling to 18-7 and now waiting for the start of next week's NJCAA Region 23 Basketball Tournament in Clinton, head coach Billy Begley's East Mississippi Lions were led by Gardiner's 19 points and eight rebounds.  The Tennessee-Martin signee scored all but two of his team-high 19 points after intermission.  Dixon and Davis added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

With women's play starting Wednesday and first-round men's action set for Thursday, next week's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament will be held at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the Mississippi College campus.