GOODMAN — Sophomore guard Deonte Alexander nailed a game-winning buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt Thursday night to give the No. 15 East Mississippi Community College men”s basketball team a 68-67 victory against Holmes C.C. at Frank Branch Coliseum.
The Lions (16-2, 7-0 in MACJC North Division) won their sixth straight game, while the Lady Lions earned their third-straight victory, a 65-63 decision against the Lady Bulldogs.
EMCC”s men trailed for most of the contest, including 37-33 at halftime. With the Lions trailing 66-65, EMCC sophomore Jonathan King drew a charge with 22 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, EMCC freshman point guard D.J. Evans went one-on-one and missed a short attempt. Donovan Walker”s offensive putback was blocked, and Holmes” Tevin Hammond was fouled with one second left on the game clock.
After missing the first of two attempts from the line, Hammond sank the second free throw to make it a two-point contest and set up Alexander”s last-second heroics. Upon receiving the inbounds pass from Walker, a contested Alexander (game-high 18 points) banked in the winning 3-pointer.
King added 14 points, while Walker and Evans added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
In the women”s contest, the Lady Lions surrendered a double-digit advantage in the second half after owning a 30-21 halftime lead. Like the nightcap, the outcome of the opener came down to the final seconds. Holmes” Amber Clay couldn”t get off a shot attempt in the waning moments of the contest to preserve the win for EMCC.
Owners of a three-game winning streak, the Lady Lions improved to 10-7 and 5-2 in the MACJC North Division.
Sophomore forward Kierra Jones paced EMCC for the third consecutive contest with a career-high 20 points. The Starkville High product and former Meridian C.C. transfer is averaging 18 points over her last three outings. Classmate Natalie Tate, of Columbus, had 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while freshman guard and former Kemper County standout Chadisty Hickman added 12.
The Lady Bulldogs (9-6, 3-3) received 15 points apiece from Kierra Gilmore and Jacquonna Young.
EMCC will play host to Northwest Mississippi at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday at EMCC”s Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
n ICC basketball sweeps Coahoma: At Fulton, Melvin Morgan scored a team-high 26 points Thursday night to lead the Itawamba Community College men”s basketball team to a 91-69 victory against Coahoma C.C. in a MACJC North Division game.
In the women”s game, former Starkville High School standout Shay Bonner had 17 points and former Aberdeen High standout Jameika Hoskins had 13 points and 10 rebounds in an 86-52 victory. The win was the fifth in a row for the Lady Indians (13-3, 6-0 division).
The Indians (8-8, 3-3) pulled away in the final moments of the first half to take a 47-35 lead at halftime. They maintained their double-digit lead throughout the second half.
Wendell Williams and Todd Nelson added 17 each for the Indians, while Jamal Farr added 10.
Vechatita Bonner led the ICC women with 19 points. Anna Dill added 11.
ICC will play host to Mississippi Delta at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday.
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