Shorthanded EMCC Lions drop 89-65 decision at Northwest Mississippi

SENATOBIA – In their final non-conference basketball action of the season before next week's tipoff of the MACCC slate, the shorthanded EMCC Lions dropped an 89-65 road decision Thursday afternoon to Northwest Mississippi at Howard Coliseum. In women's action, EMCC outscored Northwest, 14-3, during the extra session to grind out a 62-51 overtime win over the Lady Rangers.

In the men's nightcap, the undermanned EMCC Lions played with a limited roster for the second time in three days due to various injuries. The absence of their three leading season scorers (Jermaurhiyun Anderson, DeAndre Lewis and Yamari Allette) was again felt early in the contest, as the Lions trailed 11-0 and 24-9 in the opening half.

Baskets by Brian Kitenge and Nate Pruitt midway through the first half ignited a 22-4 EMCC surge that was further fueled by three made treys apiece from Josh Brown and Keymarius Lewis. Their six combined three-pointers helped give the visitors a 31-28 halftime advantage.

Though the Lions added six more three-point makes in the second stanza, they were outdone by Northwest's game-changing 10-of-18 (56%) perimeter shooting exhibition during the final 20 minutes of play. The Rangers shot 61 percent (22-36 FGs) overall from the field and made 7-of-8 (88%) free throws while outscoring EMCC, 61-34, in the second half en route to their 24-point victory.

Individually, Tyler Shephard's sizzling 6-of-8 (75%) effort from behind the three-point arc during the second half resulted in 22 of his game-high 27 points for Northwest. Jaquise Richmond followed with 20 points for the game, while Colain Brown and Keanu Patrick added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the 5-6 Rangers.

Dropping to 6-9 on the season with their sixth straight setback, head coach Billy Begley's EMCC Lions were led by Brown's career-high 19 points on 6-of-14 three-point shooting. The former Canton High School standout also had eight rebounds and four assists. Lewis had 16 points with four made treys, while Starkville's Jonathan Baker recorded his first EMCC double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Kitenge approached a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds, and Pruitt added seven points and 11 boards.

The Lady Lions held the advantage for the majority of the women's contest. After a 9-1 run opened up an early 14-6 EMCC lead at the end of the opening quarter, the visitors still owned a slim 24-23 halftime edge despite 10 unanswered Northwest points that briefly gave the home team an 18-16 lead midway through the second quarter.

Following intermission, EMCC freshman guard Dukiaha Jones' nine third-quarter points sparked an 8-0 spurt that helped give the Lady Lions a nine-point lead (34-25). The Lady Rangers answered with six straight points to cut the deficit to five points (36-31) heading into the fourth quarter.

The final 10 minutes of regulation featured four lead changes and a pair of ties before the contest went into overtime tied at 48-48 following a pair of made free throws by Northwest's Aaliyah Taylor with 14 seconds left.

Started by a pair of free throws from Je'Niecia Hill and ignited by a pair of timely Kennedi Wagner three-pointers, the Lady Lions dominated the extra session. After the Lady Rangers trimmed the margin to 58-51 on Takera Bland's two free throws with 1:27 remaining, Jones' made trey to beat the shot clock proved to be the final dagger in EMCC's 11-point overtime triumph.

Improving to 5-7 on the season, head coach Isaiah Butler's EMCC Lady Lions were paced by Jones' game-high 20 points that matched her season high. The former West Point High School standout also added nine rebounds. Hill, from Starkville, registered her first collegiate double-double by posting career highs of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Wagner, a transfer from Coahoma, scored seven of her nine points during overtime, including her two clutch three-point baskets.

Falling to 4-6 on the year, the Northwest women were led by Bland's 18 points.

East Mississippi's basketball teams are slated to begin MACCC play this coming week by taking on Mississippi Gulf Coast in Perkinston on Monday (Jan. 13) and then playing host to Northwest Mississippi on Thursday (Jan. 16) in Scooba.