CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team notched their fourth straight victory with a 76-73 win over the University of North Alabama on Thursday night in A.E. Wood Coliseum.The Choctaws (11-9, 9-9 GSC) trailed 43-30 in the opening minute of the second half after a three-pointer by Nathan Spehr for the Lions (11-13, 8-10 GSC). MC would answer with a 22-6 run to take a 52-49 lead with 12:14 remaining on a three-pointer by senior
Jay Case.
After Jeff Hodge tied the game at 54-54 with 10:57 remaining, the Choctaws would go on a 10-3 run to take their largest lead of the game at 64-57 with 7:19 remaining.
UNA would chip away at the lead and with 37 seconds remaining, Spehr nailed two free throws to give the Lions a 73-72 lead.
Junior
Tristan Moore, who scored 21 points and went 10-of-13 from the free throw line, would give MC the lead right back with two free throws, and then freshman
Stacey Mack took over. He made a steal on UNA's next possession and knocked down both free throws to push the lead out to 76-73 with nine seconds left.
The final three-point attempt of the night came up short, and the Choctaws held on for the season sweep of North Alabama.
Mack finished the game with 15 points and 14 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the season and second in-a-row. He was 4-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Junior
Tory Rice set a new MC single-season record with his 13th double-double of the season, scoring 23 points with a season-high 16 rebounds. He was 8-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
As a team, MC was 28-of-39 (71%) from the charity stripe and outrebounded the Lions, 49-35. On the night, there were 53 total fouls called and three combined players fouled out.
Cavlin Dade led UNA with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Spehr and Brandon Herman had 14 points apiece.
The Choctaws will be back in action on Saturday when they will celebrate "Senior Day," hosting Alabama Huntsville at 4:00 pm. in A.E. Wood Coliseum. At halftime of the women's game, MC will honor Case,
Jaron Edwards,
Emmanuel Ezejiofo and
Rayner Fredrick.