CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team will play their first Gulf South Conference game since the 1995-96 season when they host the University of West Alabama on Thursday night in A.E. Wood Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
This will be the 60th meeting all-time between the schools, dating back to their first contest in the 1955-56 season, a 78-69 victory for UWA, known as Livingston at the time. The Choctaws lead the overall series by a mark of 31-28, including going 14-8 against the Tigers in A.E. Wood Coliseum. The teams have not faced off since 1996-97 when MC picked up a 70-62 victory.
Head coach
Don Lofton enters his 11th season at the helm, winning his first two games of the season for his 180th career victory. Lofton has compiled a 104-28 (.788) record at home, including a perfect mark in the 2005-06 season.
The Choctaws (2-0) began the season with a 77-57 win over Spring Hill at home before traveling across town to take down Belhaven, 83-75. MC erased an 8-point first half lead in the victory over the Blazers prior to the Thanksgiving break.
MC is shooting 49% from the field and holding their opponents to below 40% in the first two games. They have also outrebounded their opponents and are averaging 22 made free throws per game.
Junior
Tory Rice has recorded double-doubles in his first two games as a Choctaw, averaging 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 57% from the floor and went 11-of-12 from the foul line against Belhaven.
Junior
Tristan Moore (14.5 ppg), freshman
Stacey Mack (14.0 ppg) and senior
Emmanuel Ezejiofo (12.0 ppg) are scoring in double-figures. Ezejiofo made his season debut against the Blazers, scoring 12 points with seven boards and two blocks.
The Tigers (4-3) are led by head coach Allen Sharpe in his first year at the helm. He has never posted a losing record in his 12-year coaching career at Arkansas-Monticello, Wallace State CC, Truett-McConnell and UWA.
The hot-shooting Tigers are over 50% from the field this season and are coming off a 109-54 victory over Miles on Monday night. Justin Wright leads the team with 15.6 points per game, while Lleon Tillman is scoring 14.3 points and pulling down a team-high 9.0 rebounds per contest. Kenric McCants averages 9.9 points and 6.3 assists per game.
