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Sophomore Antonio Johnson scored a career-high 24 points, going 6-of-8 from the three-point line, with six rebounds and four assists. The McComb native’s previous career-high was nine points, which he has scored three times this season.
The Choctaws (7-13, 6-12 GSC) appeared to be coasting to an easy victory despite the missing piece, grabbing a 21-point lead at 60-39 with 11:26 remaining when Johnson nailed a three-pointer.
The Lions (14-10, 11-7 GSC) chipped away at the lead and when John Fletcher completed a three-point play with 4:46 to go, the score was just 65-61.
Senior Christian Howard, who earned his first start of the season, hit a long ball with just over four minutes remaining to push the lead back out to 68-61.
UNA continued their pressure defense that led the comeback and tied the game on a couple of occasions, including at 76-76 with just 10 second remaining.
On the inbounds pass, redshirt-freshman Hunter Ray was fouled and went to the line for two shots. The rookie that earned his first career playing time against Christian Brothers in January, hit the second foul shot and UNA’s last second look was long as MC held on for the improbable win.
The Choctaws were missing senior Tory Rice (14.0 ppg / 11.8 rpg) missed his fourth straight game with an injury, while junior Otis Harvey (7.6 ppg) has been out since early December with an injured leg.
Seniors Jonathan McGee (12.9 ppg), Tristan Moore (13.6 ppg) and Johnny Rucker (12.4 ppg) were all missing from Thursday’s win because of a one-game suspension due to violation of team rules.
Junior DeOndre Haynes helped pick up the slack witih career-highs in points (17) and assists (6), while sophomoreStacey Mack tallied his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior Byron McCall also scored a career-high 10 points, while Howard and Ray each scored seven. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Choctaws.
The Choctaw defense stepped up in the win, holding UNA, who averages 87.7 points per game, to just 34% shooting from the floor. The Lions went 8-of-34 (24%) from the three-point line.
Jeff Hodge led the way with 23 points, while Bilal Richardson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Choctaws will be back in action on Saturday when they face GSC-leading Alabama-Huntsville at 4:00 p.m.
