EMCC basketball teams sweep at Alabama Southern to tip off campaign; Lions set to open home slate by hosting Meridian CC
The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams successfully opened their 2014-15 season by sweeping Alabama Southern Community College Tuesday evening at the Cooper Center. The EMCC women's team claimed a 71-59 win in the opener, while the preseason 24th-ranked Lions prevailed 95-80 during the nightcap.
MONROEVILLE, Ala. – The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams successfully opened their 2014-15 season by sweeping Alabama Southern Community College Tuesday evening at the Cooper Center. The EMCC women's team claimed a 71-59 win in the opener, while the preseason 24th-ranked Lions prevailed 95-80 during the nightcap.
After trailing by as many as six points in the opening period, the Lady Lions closed out the half with a 15-5 run to gain a 36-27 halftime advantage. After ASCC cut the deficit to a single point early in the second stanza, EMCC standout freshman Ki-Ki Patterson connected on a timely four-point play at the 11:27 mark to put the visitors back in control.
With the Lady Eagles still within a basket midway through the half, the EMCC women scored eight unanswered points to take a 60-49 lead with six minutes remaining in the contest. Debuting an entirely new roster from a year ago, the Lady Lions maintained their double-digit cushion the rest of the way en route to the 12-point, season-opening triumph.
Patterson, a former Parade All-American at Columbus High School, led head coach Sharon Thompson's 1-0 EMCC Lady Lions with 21 points in the opener. T.J. Harper and Angeline Earl followed with 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the winners.
With the new-look Lions leading throughout the contest in the nightcap, sophomore Antonio Finley knocked down his first five three-point attempts. The Meridian product's 17 first-half points lifted the visitors to a 19-point advantage before settling for a 52-36 halftime margin.
Utilizing their trademark stifling defense, the Lions continued to maintain their double-digit lead for the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. However, midway through the period, the Eagles scored eight unanswered points to trim their deficit to five points (65-60). Sporting virtually a brand new team this season, it was the play of freshman guard La'Datren Deas that helped spark the visitors when they needed a lift. The Pascagoula product scored eight clutch points during a timely stretch that increased EMCC's lead to 77-63.
From there, the Lions coasted to the season-opening, 15-point victory on the road. Coach Mark White's 1-0 EMCC club featured balanced scoring with five players in double figures. Deas led the way with 24 points, including 17 after halftime, followed by Finley with 20 points. Former West Lauderdale High School product Chris Rhoney, a sophomore transfer from East Central CC, added 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals for the winners.
The East Mississippi basketball teams will tip off their regular-season home slate Thursday by playing host to rival Meridian Community College. A 5:30 p.m. women's game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.