MC hoops teams topple visiting UAH
By Datti Jinkiri
Gulf South Conference (GSC) basketball play is underway, and both Mississippi College hoops teams picked up big home wins against Alabama Huntsville on Saturday. Both of these wins came on the heels of losses to West Alabama, so the teams split the weekend against schools from the Yellowhammer state.
Women: Mississippi College 83, Alabama Huntsville 44
The Lady Choctaws used a 20-0 run in the second quarter to defeat the Chargers 83-44. They only led by four points at the end of the first quarter before jumping out a huge 40-19 halftime lead.
Guard Taylor Ben led the team in scoring with 17 points (7-13 FG). She also made three three-pointers and grabbed six rebounds. Ally Alford, the team’s second-leading scorer this season, added 16 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3PT). Kyiah Julian and Amelia Bell added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Choctaws shot a hair under 46 percent from the field and held the Chargers to just 31.8 percent shooting. They grabbed 38 rebounds, with Bell leading the team with nine. They were also active defensively, as they tallied an impressive 12 steals in the game.
Mississippi College now has a 5-3 record and a 1-1 record in GSC play. Up next for them will be a meeting with Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday night in non-conference play. Tip-off from A.E. Wood Coliseum is set for 5:30 p.m.
Men: Mississippi College 73, Alabama Huntsville 70
The Choctaws fought back from a 14-point second half deficit to edge the Chargers 73-70. Miles Miller’s clutch three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining completed the comeback and gave them the lead for good.
Miller led the Choctaws in scoring with a season-high 26 points. He hit eight three-pointers, including the dagger inside the final minute. Tradavis Thompson shot nine-for-16 from the field and added 24 points.
The Choctaws overcame hot shooting from the Chargers in the first half. The visitors shot 73.9 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from behind the arc on their way to a 43-32 halftime lead. However, the Choctaws’ defense picked up in the second stanza. They held the Chargers to under 42 percent shooting from the field and just 27.3 percent from three.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Choctaws. They now have a 3-4 record overall with a 1-1 mark in GSC play. They will face Talladega College at home tomorrow in non-conference action, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.
