Wolves Drop Overtime Thriller in Conference Opener

SENATOBIA – The Co-Lin Men's Basketball team opened MACCC play with a road contest against Northwest Mississippi on Monday, January 13. The Rangers beat the Wolves, 89-87, in a thrilling overtime game.

The Wolves stumbled out of the gates to start the game as the Rangers opened with a 14-7 scoring run to hold a lead by that margin with 16:14 left in the first half. However, the Wolves responded with a 12-5 scoring run to tie the game at 19-19 with 11:47 left on the clock. The Wolves then went on a 17-9 scoring run to hold a 36-28 lead with 5:25 remaining. The Rangers closed out the first half with a 10-8 scoring run, but the Wolves held the lead at 44-38 as both teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

The Wolves opened the second half with a 7-4 scoring to push their lead to 51-42 with 16:29 left to play. The Rangers then responded with a 10-4 scoring run cutting the Wolves lead down to 55-52 with 12:37 remaining. The Rangers then went on a 16-13 scoring run to tie the game at 68-68 with 6:59 left on the clock. The teams then traded baskets, leads, and ties as they added ten points each with the Wolves getting a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but the potential shot was missed sending the game into overtime at 78-78.

In the overtime period, the teams once again traded baskets and leads with neither team holding more than a three-point lead at any points. The Wolves tied the game with eight seconds remaining as Deven Bates sunk a three-point basket making the score, 87-87. However, the Rangers got one final shot attempt off which was missed but a game-winning tip in with .5 on the clock sealed the 89-87 win.

Deven Bates (Jackson) led the Wolves offensively with a game-leading 30 points paired with two rebounds, three assists, and three steals. The Wolves had two players post double-double performances as Prince Ojukwu (Etobicoke, Ontario) had 14 points and a game-leading 18 rebounds, which is a new career high, while Dakota Hillard had 13 points with 14 rebounds, also a career high. Keisean Shields (Atoka, OK) had ten points with four steals, two assists, and two rebounds.

Fred Gray, Jr., (Belzoni) had eight points, Dawson Knox (Brookhaven) had six points, Jayden Jackson (Camden) had four points, and Antonio Oatis (Hattiesburg) had two points to round out the scoring for the Wolves.

Co-Lin is now 8-5 overall, 0-1 in MACCC play, and will return to action hosting Southwest Mississippi on Thursday, January 16. Tip-off between the Bears and the Wolves is set for 7:30 p.m., at Mullen Gym in Wesson.