By Staff
DON'T TRY THAT HERE – MCC's Rufus Molden tries to put up a shot against Copiah-Lincoln at the Ivy sports center on Thursday night. PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT / THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Dec. 6, 2002
It was a fight on Thursday night at the Ivy Sports Center, but the Meridian Community College Eagles landed the last shot.
Jamall Edmonson hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in overtime to give MCC a big 91-90 MACJC South Division victory over Co-Lin.
In the women's game, the nationally-ranked Lady Wolves blew past the Lady Eagles 100-63.
The MCC men did not lead in the game with the Wolves until Edmonson hit the final shot of the game. Co-Lin led by as many as 21 points in the second half before the Eagles came storming back to take the overtime win.
The Wolves jumped out to an early lead in the first half and led 46-34 at halftime. Co-Lin went on a 13-4 run to start the second half to stretch the lead out to 21 points with 13:46 left to play.
With 13 minutes left, Edmonson started a run for MCC by making some big shots and also by dishing off to his teammates. MCC cut the lead down to 11 points with 9:20 left to play.
After Co-Lin extended the lead to 14 points, Edmonson and Kenny Boyd sent the Eagles on another run. Willie Powers also stepped up for some big baskets for the Eagles. He cut the lead to three points at 75-72 with a field goal with 3:16 remaining.
The Wolves led by four points with two minutes left, but two free throws from Edmonson and a basket by Boyd tied the game at 79. Jason Scott answered with a basket for the Wolves with 34 seconds left. Co-Lin was called for a foul with 24 seconds left, however, and Edmonson hit both free throws to send the game to overtime.
The Wolves jumped out to a three-point lead on a three-point play by Zack Baldwin. The Eagles cut the lead down to one on their next possession. Carl Minor hit a shot for Co-Lin and then added two free throws on the next possession to make the score 88-83.
With Edmonson on the bench with cramps, J.R. Willis stepped up to hit a big three-pointer to cut the lead to two points. Scott answered with a bucket to make the score 90-86. On the Eagles' next possession, Dewayne Jackson came up with a huge tip-in to cut the lead to two points with 1:11 left to play.
After Co-Lin missed a shot, the Eagles came down the floor and missed a three. The ball went out of bounds off of the Wolves so MCC got new life. The Eagles again missed a shot, but again the ball went out off of Co-Lin.
With eight seconds left, the Eagles came out of a timeout and threw the ball in to Edmonson. He took a shot from just outside the arch and drained it to make the score 91-90 with four seconds left to play. Co-Lin had a shot at the end of the game, but could not connect and MCC took the victory.
Jeremy Collier led Co-Lin with 37 points while Scott scored 23 for the Wolves. Willis scored 11 for the Eagles and Boyd added 10.
The Eagles improve to 4-3 on the season with the win and move to 1-0 in division play. They will travel to play Lawson State on Friday.
Co-Lin women 100
MCC 63
Meridian came out flat after an emotional win over East Mississippi Community College on Monday night and the Co-Lin Lady Wolves made the Lady Eagles pay for it.
Co-Lin jumped out to an early lead and continued to pour it on the Lady Eagles with strong defense and easy baskets on the offensive end of the floor.
The Lady Wolves jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half and went on to lead 50-35 at the half. Co-Lin then started the second half by outscoring the Lady Eagles 15-6.
MCC cut the lead down to 19 with 14 minutes left, but the Lady Wolves went on a 14-2 run to put the game away.
Tiania Burns led Co-Lin with 23 points while Nikki Blakely added 18 and Shaquita Smith had 14. Monique Horner scored 18 points for Meridian and Chelse' Alford added 14.
The Lady Eagles fall to 6-2 on the season and 0-1 in division play.