Wolves pick up MACJC South Division win in overtime

WESSON, Miss. - The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves found themselves on the right side of a close contest on Tuesday night for the first time in four-straight games as Co-Lin outlasted Hinds, 80-79, in an overtime thriller. The win improved Co-Lin's record to 6-8 overall and to 1-4 in MACJC South Division play after dropping games to East Central by a buzzer-beater and to Southwest in overtime last week. The back-to-back overtime contests are the first since the Wolves defeated Meridian and Gulf Coast in two overtime wins on January 21 and 23 of 2016. Hinds drops to 8-4, 3-2. The Wolves are back in Mullen on Thursday, January 23 as the team plays host to the Meridian Eagles. The game is slated for a 7:30 start and fans can watch the game live at www.colinathletics.com/watch or listen live at WMJU 104.3 FM in Brookhaven. 

The action was tight throughout the first half as the lead traded hands five times. Co-Lin led by six early in the opening half after a big three-pointer from Tyree Lomax, but the Bulldogs responded and tied the game at 20-20 midway through the period. Hinds capitalized on that momentum and grew their own six-point advantage, 35-29, with less than a minute play. Lomax once again hit a big three-pointer for the Wolves followed by two big free throws from TJ Monroe. The five-point swing put Co-Lin down just one, 35-34, going into the half.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 6-0 run, but the Wolves quickly responded with a blistering 16-2 run led by Lance Madison and JD Allen. Demarcus Ellzey and Je'Kevious Williams also hit big baskets during the Co-Lin scoring spree. The shift in momentum put Co-Lin on top by eight, 51-43, with 14 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs began chipping away at Co-Lin's lead over the next several minutes, but three-pointers from Ellzey helped keep the lead in the Wolves' hands. With 1:12 remaining Hinds hit a big three-pointer that tied the game at 67-67. Co-Lin's Darrius Kent hit two big free throws with less than a minute to play to put Co-Lin up by two, 69-67, but Hinds made a basket on the other end to tie the game for the fifth time at 69-69. Co-Lin had possession at the end of regulation but was unable to find the basket. 

Hinds scored first in overtime on a free throw, but Ellezy rattled home another three-pointer to give Co-Lin the momentum early. Later in the extra frame, with the game tied at 74-74, Dajon Whitworth rattled home a pair of free throws give the Wolves lead, but once again the Bulldogs responded in the paint on the other end. With just 34 seconds remaining, Je'Kevious Williams toed the line and drained two free throws to once again put Co-Lin on top by two. Whitworth stole Hinds' next possession and dropped it in to grow the lead to four, 80-76, with less than five to play. The Bulldogs hit a late three-pointer, but it was too little too late as Co-Lin came out on top, 80-79. 

Ellzey led Co-Lin with 15 points after going 5-for-12 from beyond the arc, while Lomax poured in 12 points. Whitworth and Williams rounded out the top scorers with 10 points each. Williams also led the team in rebounds with nine boards, while Whitworth posted a team-high five assists. Dontrell McQuarter led Hinds with 25 points and Ladarius Marshall led the Bulldogs with nine rebounds. 

The Wolves shot 40 percent (25-of-63) from the floor, 32 percent (10-of-31) from three-point range, and 77 percent (20-of-26) from the free-throw line. The Bulldogs shot 44 percent (27-of-62) from the floor, 27 percent (6-of-22) from downtown, and 68 percent (19-of-28) from the stripe. Hinds outrebounded Co-Lin by two, 42-40, but had one more turnover than the Wolves, 11 to 10.