CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team opens up the second half of Gulf South Conference play with a road game against North Alabama on Thursday night. Tip-off at Flowers Hall is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Mississippi College (4-11, 1-10 GSC) at North Alabama (10-7, 5-6 GSC)
Location: Florence, Ala.  |  Flowers Hall
Time: 8:00 p.m.
 

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THE SERIES
This will be the 39th all-time meeting between the two schools with UNA holding a 29-19 edge in the series. The teams most recently played on January 14th with the Lions hitting a three-pointer in the final seconds to grab a 60-57 win. Junior Stacey Mack led the Choctaws with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the defeat.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE INFORMATION
Head Coach: Don Lofton  |  201-131 (.605), 13th Year at MC

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Antonio Johnson (5'10, 165, Jr.) - 12.5 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Stacey Mack (6'7, 229, Jr.) - 8.0 rpg
Leading Assists: DeOndre Haynes (6'3, 180, Sr.) - 3.5 apg

LAST GAME: Freshman Brandon Boston scored a career-high 18 points, but the Choctaws could not overcome a hot-shooting night by Valdosta State (60%) in a 103-79 road loss. MC shot 53% from the field, including 59% in the second half, but VSU went 21-of-28 from the field in the second half to win going away.
 

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NORTH ALABAMA INFORMATION
Head Coach: Bobby Champagne  |  226-173 (.566), 13th Year at MC

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Dimario Jackson (6'0, 160, Sr.) - 15.9 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Austin Timms (6'7, 195, Sr.) - 7.6 rpg
Leading Assists: Dimario Jackson (6'0, 160, Sr.) - 3.3 apg

LAST GAME: The Lions built up a 13-point second half lead, fell behind in the final minutes, but hit two late free throws to grab a huge 87-86 road victory over Shorter on Saturday. Tavaras Tolliver, who hit the game-winning foul shots, scored a team-high 23 points, while Johnell Ginnie had 20 points and nine rebounds.
 

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GAME NOTES
- The Choctaws are led by 13th-year head coach Don Lofton, who earned his 200th career victory on December 3rd in an 83-65 win over Selma.
- MC is coming off a difficult road trip that saw them fall to West Florida (92-72) and Valdosta State (103-79). The Choctaws shot nearly 50% from the field over the two games, but both opponents were over 50% and just under 50% from the three-point line in the two games.
- Junior Antonio Johnson (12.5 ppg) is the team's leading scorer and ranks second on the squad with 49 assists and 17 steals. Sophomore Davy Fisher (5.0 ppg) leads the team in three-point shooting (.421), while freshman Brandon Boston (9.0 ppg) is the team's leader in field goal percentage (.583).
- Mack (12.1 ppg) leads the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and is shooting 73% from the free throw line this year. The former McComb HS standout has scored in double-figures in each of the last seven games. Sophomore Xavion Dillon (11.0 ppg) scored 19 points in the loss at UWF on Thursday night.
- The Lions, led by 13th-year head coach Bobby Champagne, have won three straight games, including the last-second win over MC just over a week ago. They grabbed an 83-66 home win over Lee before going to Shorter and winning, 87-86.
- Dimario Jackson (15.9 ppg) is the team's leading scorer and nailed the game-winning shot against MC. He is shooting 89% from the free throw line and leads the team with 56 assists.
- Tavaras Tolliver (10.4 ppg) and Austin Timms (10.2 ppg) are also averaging in double-figures with Timms leading the team with 7.6 rebounds per game and 25 steals.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.