EMCC Lions drill 10 second-half 3-pointers to highlight 83-55 home win over Wallace State-Hanceville
Hitting 10 second-half 3-pointers, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College broke open a close contest on the way to posting an 83-55 home win over Wallace State Community College Hanceville in men’s basketball action Monday evening at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
SCOOBA – Hitting 10 second-half 3-pointers, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College broke open a close contest on the way to posting an 83-55 home win over Wallace State Community College Hanceville in men's basketball action Monday evening at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
With freshman Carlos Thomas and sophomore David McFarland combining for 26 of EMCC's 31 first-half points, the home-standing Lions only held a four-point halftime lead. After the visitors cut the deficit to a single point (32-31) early in the second half, a 21-3 EMCC run was ignited by three straight baskets by sophomore Anterio McKines and capped by 3-pointers from McFarland and freshman Mitch Storm.
Another 3-pointer by McFarland extended the margin to 20 points (58-38) midway through the half. The Raymond High School product then further lengthened the lead to 30 points (73-43) with a two-point bucket on a feed from Thomas with just over five remaining in the contest.
EMCC's 10 second-half made 3-pointers came on just 14 attempts for a red-hot 71 percent from beyond the three-point arc following intermission. For the game, the Lions were 31-of-58 (53%) overall from the field, including 13-of-23 (57%) from long range.
Along with hitting 9-of-14 shots from the field, including a sizzling 6-of-8 from behind the arc, to finish with a game-high 25 points, McFarland added a career-high 11 rebounds to register his third double-double in six outings this season. The Edwards native also dished out five assists.
Enjoying a breakout game inside the paint for the Lions, Thomas finished with a season-high 24 points on 10-of-12 accuracy from the field. The Horn Lake product also added five rebounds and five assists. McKines, from Quitman, followed with a season-high 16 points for the winners, including 13 in the second half.
Falling to 1-6 on the season, Wallace State-Hanceville was led by Jarrett Thompson's 12 points.
Coach Billy Begley's 4-2 EMCC Lions will return to the hardwood following the Thanksgiving holiday break with a Monday home contest against Tennessee Prep Academy. A 5:30 p.m. women's game pitting head coach Sharon Thompson's 4-2 EMCC squad against Lawson State Community College will precede the 7:30 p.m. men's action on the Scooba campus.