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The Mississippi College men’s basketball team came up just short in their bid for a road sweep in the Gulf South Conference with a 95-92 at West Georgia on Sunday afternoon.
The Choctaws (2-2, 1-1 GSC) were red-hot from the field, shooting 55% (32-of-58) and even better from the three-point line where they made 10-of-17 (59%). Unfortunately, the Wolves (5-2, 2-0 GSC) were also lights out, shooting 63% (35-of-56) from the floor and 7-of-19 from the three-point line.
Junior Otis Harvey scored 17 first-half points, going 4-of-5 from the three-point line, and his long ball in the final seconds cut UWG’s lead to 46-44 going into halftime.
In the second half, the teams would trade leads, but the Wolves jumped out to a 90-81 lead with 1:37 to go when Deontre Brown nailed two free throws.
The Choctaws went on a 9-1 run, capped off by a three-pointer from senior Tristan Moore with 16 seconds remaining, cutting the advantage to 91-90.
Moore had his best scoring game of the season, putting up 22 points, and completing the double-double with 10 assists. In his two games at The Coliseum in Carrollton, the Senatobia native has tallied 24 helpers after recording 14 in last year’s meeting. He was also a perfect 3-of-3 from the three-point line.
The teams traded free throws, and when sophomore Antonio Johnson knocked two down with seven seconds to go, the score was 93-92 and West Georgia had the ball.
Keron Briggs would go to the line after a foul and make two clutch free throws to give West Georgia a three-point lead, forcing a final long-ball attempt from senior Johnny Rucker that missed.
The Choctaws had five players score in double-figures for the second time this season, led by Moore’s 22 points and Harvey’s 20, which included six made three-pointers.
Senior Tory Rice tallied a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Rucker 14 and sophomore Stacey Mack broke out with his first double-digit points game of the year with 11.
Shannon Fowler led the Wolves with 23 points, while Steph Branch had 17 and Briggs had 15. Alson Iakeem posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, while Zach Taulien had 12 points.
The Choctaws will be back in action on Thursday when they open their Gulf South Conference home schedule against Union University at 7:30 p.m. in A.E. Wood Coliseum.
