Lions have four-game win streak snapped at Northeast

BOONEVILLE — The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams were involved in contrasting contests during Monday's MACCC North Division action against Northeast Mississippi.  The EMCC women cruised to a commanding 82-49 home triumph over the Lady Tigers at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum, while the Lions had their four-game winning streak snapped with a hard-fought 72-69 road setback to the division-leading Tigers at NEMCC's Bonner Arnold Coliseum.

During the men's showdown that pitted a pair of MACCC North Division title contenders, the two teams battled to a one-point margin by the intermission.

Coming out of halftime, an 11-4 EMCC run capped by a Jakorie Smith basket gave the visitors a six-point lead (43-37) four minutes into the second stanza.  The Lions maintained their advantage until the midway point of the half, before the two teams became deadlocked on three occasions heading into the game's stretch run.

Following a scoreless couple of minutes tied at 58-58, the Tigers gained some breathing room by scoring seven unanswered points to move ahead, 65-58, with 3:29 remaining in the contest.  Northeast secured that lead until the final minute of play when the Lions made one final push.

Aided by the Tigers missing the front ends of a pair of one-and-one free throw opportunities down the stretch, EMCC's Traemond Pittman followed his earlier two-point basket with a made 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in regulation to pull the Lions to within two points.  On the ensuing possession with EMCC forced to foul, Northeast's Cole McGrath made his first free throw attempt to make it a three-point game with four ticks left.  His second try was then rebounded by the Lions' Nick Walker, who pushed the ball ahead to Smith for a would-be, game-tying trey that rimmed out at the final buzzer.

All but one of the Lions' 11 games this season have now been decided by seven points or less, including eight contests that have been decided by three points or less.

Coach Billy Begley's 7-4 EMCC Lions, now 5-3 in division play, were led by Smith's 11^th career double-double (third this season) with 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Hunter McCutcheon continued his hot hand by hitting five 3-pointers for 16 points, while Pittman had 13 points and nine assists.

The Northeast Tigers had all five of their starters score in double figures, led by Deandre Hypolite's 17 points (7-9 FGs) and nine rebounds.  Ken Lewis and Zeke Cook followed with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Kylan Blackmon and Jacob Tracey added 10 points apiece.

In women's action on the Scooba campus, the reigning conference champion Lady Lions dominated the visiting Lady Tigers from the opening tip-off.  After pulling out to a 28-5 advantage by the end of the opening quarter, EMCC lengthened the lead to 33 points (46-13) with a Siarra Jackson basket late in the half.

The home-standing Lady Lions continued to build on their 30-point (48-18) halftime cushion by stretching the margin to as many as 37 points twice (64-27 & 77-40) during the second half.

For the game, EMCC shot 44 percent (31-70 FGs) from the field and 79 percent (15-19 FTs) from the charity stripe as a team, while owning a 51-34 rebounding advantage over Northeast as well as being credited with 15 steals and 24 assists.

With all nine available players scoring for the Lady Lions during their 33-point win, Coach Sharon Thompson's squad improved to 4-2 on the season.  Reigning all-conference forward Ja'Mia Hollings led the way with a game-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor.  Tamara Alexander and Lancaster followed with 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the winners.

The Northeast women were led by Calysia Phillips and Cherica Cheairs with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

East Mississippi's basketball teams are scheduled to continue division play Thursday evening (March 4) by taking on Coahoma with the men playing in Scooba and the women competing in Clarksdale.  Both games are slated for 6 p.m. tip-offs.