EMCC Lions post 11th straight hoops series win over rival Meridian; Lady Lions fall to MCC in home opener

SCOOBA – The preseason 24^th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College claimed their 11^th consecutive series win over rival Meridian Community College with an 85-76 basketball victory during Thursday's home season opener at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.  In the women's contest, the Lady Eagles earned an 88-63 road win over EMCC's Lady Lions.

During the nightcap, the home-standing Lions trailed by nine points (26-17) midway through the first half but outscored the visitors 24-7 the rest of the period to take a 41-33 halftime lead.  EMCC maintained its advantage throughout the second stanza, though the Eagles battled to the final buzzer.

With Meridian High School product Antonio Finley scoring 14 of his team-high 23 in the second half, the Lions went up by as many as 13 points (58-45) with 12 minutes remaining in the contest.  The visitors pulled to within six points a couple of times only to have Finley respond with clutch baskets.  Later in the closing period, EMCC's Chris Rhoney and Jahyde Gardiner nailed key 3-pointers to push the margin back up to double figures down the stretch.

Finley's 23 points included 5-of-12 shooting from behind the three-point arc.  Gardiner, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., registered his second double-double in as many games with 13 points and 15 rebounds for head coach Mark White's 2-0 EMCC Lions.

Evening their record at 1-1 on the young season, the Eagles received 23 points from Steven Brand and 19 by Brandon Daniels.

In the women's contest, Meridian's sophomore tandem of Londyn Thomas and Miaya Crowder helped stake the Lady Eagles to a 49-30 halftime cushion.  The visitors then essentially put the game away in the opening minutes of the second half by scoring 10 unanswered points following the break to lengthen the margin to 29 points (59-30) with 17:37 still remaining to play.

Thomas and Crowder led the 2-0 Lady Eagles by finishing with 24 and 21 points, respectively.

Head coach Sharon Thompson's 1-1 EMCC Lady Lions received a double-double effort from sophomore transfer Ashley Johnson.  The New Orleans native scored a team-high 19 points to go along with her 13 rebounds.  McComb's Angeline Earl added 11 points with three 3-pointers for EMCC, while Richland High School product Alecha Gibbs followed with nine points and 10 boards.

The East Mississippi women's team will travel to Birmingham on Monday to take on Lawson State Community College in a 5:30 p.m. solo contest.  Both EMCC squads will be back in action Thursday (Nov. 13) in Decatur with a 5:30/7:30 p.m. road doubleheader against East Central Community College.