By Staff
EAGLE ON THE RUN MCC's Sammie Cole (12) runs by Alabama Southern's Travis Hall on the way to the basket in Monday JUCO Hoops action.MCC lost the game to fall to 8-7 on the season. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Robby Atkinson /staff writer
Jan. 8, 2002
The first game after a long break can tell a story and that statement proved to be true as the MCC Eagles dropped a 93-72 decision to Alabama Southern and put the Eagles a small two game losing streak.
Alabama Southern got a hot shooting hand early in the contest with a three point field goal from Travis Hall to give the visiting Eagles a 16-7 edge over MCC. After a pair of free throws from Byron Hollinger the Eagles came right back up the floor with a basket from center Michael Monroe to cut the lead to 18-9 with 13:48 remaining until the half-time break.
Alabama Southern answered right back with a basket from David Byars to extend the lead even further. Greg Davidson then drained a huge three pointer off a costly MCC turnover to gain a big part of the momentum. The Eagles did however charge back behind a pair of baskets by Derrick Houston to trim the score to 24-17 with 10:22 left in the first half of action.
After several free throws by Alabama Southern MCC came right back with a three pointer by Sammie Cole followed by a basket from Monroe to bring some life back into the home crowd.
A few simple baskets proved not to be enough as Alabama Southern held a big half-time lead by a score of 52-40. The second half was a carbon copy of the first as Kendarius Wright hit a shot to lead an early scoring run by Alabama Southern and hold a comfortable 58-41 lead with 17:15 left in second half of play. Cole ended the short scoring drought for Meridian with a smooth basket and put the Eagles in closer striking distance at 58-43.
After two free throws by Alabama Southern Joey Wade joined the action with a basket and make the score 60-45 with 16:19 left until the end of the contest. Alabama Southern went on an impressive scoring run after the basket by Wade and ripped off eight straight points and forcing five turnovers to build the biggest lead of the! night at 68-45.
Ricardo Kelly and Korey Moore made a great effort to bring the Eagles back. Kelly hit a big lay-up and Moore hit a basket and three pointer to draw MCC to within sixteen. Meridian couldn't find any light at the end of the tunnel as the Eagles fell to Alabama Southern by a final score of 93-72.
Wright had a big night for the visiting Eagles with 22 points and Hall followed with 13 points in the win for Alabama Southern. Robert Ivy had 12 points in the loss for Meridian and Cole chipped in with nine points for MCC.