Ellzey shines in 72-69 win over Southwest

WESSON, Miss. - Five three-pointers in three minutes from Co-Lin's Demarcus Ellzey got Mullen Gymnasium rocking Monday night in a 72-69 win over Southwest. The run put the Wolves up by 11 in the first half, but the Bears battled back made it a tight contest in the final minutes. The win moves Co-Lin to 7-13, 2-9 on the year and drops the Bears to 13-7, 7-4. Co-Lin is on the road this Thursday, February 13 as the Wolves take on Hinds in Utica. Fans can watch the game live at www.colinathletics.com/watch or listen live at www.colinathletics.com/listen or WMJU 104.3 FM.

"I've been proud of our guys every night we've played, we play hard and tonight was a big win for us especially after what we've been through," said Co-Lin head coach Kenny Bizot. "Ellzey was special beyond the three-point line tonight...he really stepped up. We were very aware on defense tonight and it was good to see, for our guys to come in tonight and keep believing and staying together, I'm just proud of these guys, it's a good win." 

Midway through the first half, the game was neck-and-neck with a 16-16 tie. Ellzey sparked the Wolves with three-straight three-point possessions. Darius Kent rattled home a three-pointer before Ellzey hit two more. The Bears countered the huge offensive push with five points, but Co-Lin led by 11, 31-23, with just 3:26 remaining in the half. The big lead was short-lived as Southwest went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to just one, 34-33, right before the half, a score that would go into the locker room.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second half eventually tying the game at 57-57 with just 7:18 remaining in the contest. Over the next three minutes, the lead was tied two more times, before a layup from Lance Madison and a couple of free throws put Co-Lin up 68-64 with 2:43 on the clock. Co-Lin hung on to that lead for the remainder of the contest as the Wolves locked down the defense end of the floor. 

Ellzey finished the night with 23 points after going seven-of-nine from three-point range, while JD Allen also played well off the bench with 12 points on four-of-six three-point shooting. Cameron Woodall led Co-Lin with 11 rebounds, while Tyree Lomax dished out a team-best five assists. 

Goodnews Kpegeol led Southwest with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Ryan Black and Damian Dear both finished with 12. 

The Wolves shot 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor, 50 percent (13-of-26) from three-point range, and 63 percent (15-of-24) from the free-throw line. The Bears shot 41 percent (22-of-54) from the floor, 17 percent (4-of-24) from downtown, and 72 percent (21-of-29) from the stripe. Southwest outrebound Co-Lin 40 to 36.