EMCC Lions improve to 4-0 with pair of in-season tournament wins ahead of Monday’s home hoops debut

BOONEVILLE – The East Mississippi Community College men's basketball team remained unbeaten on the young season after posting in-season tournament wins over South Georgia Technical College (89-68) and Enterprise State Community College (75-70) this past week at the Bonner Arnold Classic on the Northeast Mississippi Community College campus.

Head coach Billy Begley's EMCC Lions improved to 4-0 on the year after previously tipping off the new season with decisive victories over Baton Rouge CC (79-46) and Southern Union State CC (90-66) at the Northwest Florida State College-hosted Raider Classic in Niceville, Fla.

In their second of four in-season tournaments this calendar year, the EMCC men started slowly in Thursday's tournament opener against South Georgia Tech as they trailed by nine points during the first four minutes of the contest. The Jets shot 48 percent (12-25 FGs) from the field and hit 12-of-13 free throws over the first 20 minutes of play, but the Lions rallied late in the half to take a 43-39 halftime advantage.

EMCC turned things around following the break, outscoring South Georgia Tech, 46-29, in the second half en route to the 21-point victory. The Lions connected on 57 percent (17-30 FGs) of their second-half field goal attempts while limiting the Jets to just 29 percent (10-34 FGs) from the field after halftime. South Georgia Tech struggled from beyond the three-point arc (0-8 treys) and also at the charity stripe (9-22 FTs for 41%) during the second half.

With four players scoring in double figures against South Georgia Tech, the Lions benefitted from 12-of-26 (46%) three-point accuracy in the contest. Freshman guard Jordan Alexander (4-7 treys & 26 pts) and sophomore swingman DeAndre Lewis (6-9 treys & 24 pts) combined for 50 points and 10 made treys between them. Freshman point guard Maurice Henderson added 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting (2-3 treys) and was credited with eight assists. Transfer guard Diovion Famakinde added 10 points and four assists for EMCC in the tourney opener.

The following afternoon in Booneville, the Lions had their toughest test to date this season during a 40-minute battle with the Boll Weevils of Enterprise State. EMCC owned the advantage for most of the opening portion of the first half before ESCC turned a five-point deficit into a 26-20 lead by the 6:12 mark with a 15-4 run that began with nine unanswered points. After knotting the score at 31-31 late in the half, the Lions trailed by just a point (34-33) at the halftime break.

The Boll Weevils maintained a slim lead for the opening seven minutes of the second half until the two teams battled through five lead changes midway through the half. The Lions reclaimed control of the contest by scoring eight unanswered points to begin a game-deciding 15-3 run that gave them an 11-point advantage (68-57) with four minutes remaining in the game.

Enterprise State managed to cut into the double-digit deficit by scoring the game's final five points to make it a five-point final margin.

EMCC's Lewis, an honorable mention All-MACCC recipient a year ago, recorded his first collegiate double-double by finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Famakinde and Alexander followed with 15 and 10 points, respectively, for the Lions.

The unbeaten EMCC Lions are set to make their home season debut as the nightcap of Monday's (Nov. 10) non-conference hoops doubleheader against the Holmes Bulldogs. A 5:30 p.m. women's contest will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's game at newly renovated Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.