CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team erased an early deficit to pull away for a 94-68 victory over College of Faith on Saturday afternoon in A.E. Wood Coliseum.

The Choctaws (1-1) trailed 27-17 with 9:06 remaining in the first half, but a 10-0 run, capped off by a three-point play from senior Tory Rice, knotted the score less than three minutes later. Rice led the Choctaws with 17 points, also pulling down eight rebounds, six of which on the offensive glass.

Overall, MC went on a 32-13 run to close out the first half, carrying a 49-40 advantage into the locker room. Both teams shot over 50% from the field in the first half with the Choctaws going 5-of-11 from the three-point line.

In the second half, the Choctaws would coast to the 26-point victory, only allowing the Warriors to get as close as six points.

Seniors Johnny Rucker and Jonathan McGee also scored in double-figures with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Senior Tristan Moore and junior Otis Harvey led the team with four assists each, as MC had 21 helpers on 36 buckets.

The Choctaws scored 24 points off 21 Faith turnovers and outscored the Warrior bench, 32-6.

MC opens Gulf South Conference play on Thursday when they travel to Livingston to face West Alabama at 8:00 p.m.