CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team plays host to the University of West Florida on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off for the Gulf South Conference contest in A.E. Wood Coliseum is set for 4:00 pm.
GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: West Florida (13-7, 8-7 GSC) at Mississippi College (4-14, 1-13 GSC)
Location: Clinton, Miss. | A.E. Wood Coliseum
Time: 4:00 p.m.
THE SERIES
This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the two schools with UWF holding a 5-4 edge in the series. Since MC returned to the GSC in the 2014-15 season, the Choctaws are 3-2 against the Argos. Earlier this season, UWF grabbed a big early lead and walked away with a 92-72 win in Pensacola.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE INFORMATION
Head Coach:
Don Lofton | 201-134 (.600), 13th Year at MC
SEASON STATS
Leading Scorer:
Stacey Mack (6'7, 229, Jr.) - 12.9 ppg
Leading Rebounder:
Stacey Mack (6'7, 229, Jr.) - 8.0 rpg
Leading Assists:
DeOndre Haynes (6'3, 180, Sr.) - 3.8 apg
LAST GAME: The Choctaws suffered a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to #24 Valdosta State on Thursday night, 100-98. MC trailed by as many as 15 in the final seven minutes but knotted the game late and took a six-point advantage in the first overtime. The Blazers bounced back and won on a last-second tip-in. Haynes scored a career-high 28 points with six rebounds and five steals.
WEST FLORIDA INFORMATION
Head Coach: Jeff Burkhamer | 20-26 (.435), 2nd Year at UWF
SEASON STATS
Leading Scorer: Austin Somerfield (6'6, 220, Sr.) - 13.8 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Darryl Tucker (6'7, 200, Jr.) - 7.6 rpg
Leading Assists: Rashaan Benson (6'0, 180, So.) - 4.5 apg
LAST GAME: The Argonauts traveled to Delta State and shot just 28% (15-of-54) from the floor on their way to a 68-48 loss to the Statesmen. Jason Laatsch scored a team-high 19 points and went 6-of-9 from the three-point line, while Deangelo Legrier tallied 11 points with 11 rebounds.
GAME NOTES
-Junior
Stacey Mack (12.9 ppg / 8.0 rpg) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder and became just the 20th player in school history to score 600 points with 400 rebounds in a career. The former McComb HS standout ranks 19th in rebounds (404) and 45th in points (637).
- Another McComb product, junior
Antonio Johnson (12.4 ppg), hit four three-pointers for the Choctaws on Thursday night and leads the team by shooting 39% (43-of-111) from behind the arc. Haynes (12.3 ppg) leads the team with 3.8 assists per game and is one of two players (
Byron McCall) to start all 18 games this season.
- The Argonauts are currently sitting in 5th in the GSC standings with an 8-7 mark in the league. Led by 2nd-year head coach Jeff Burkhamer, UWF is looking to double their win total from a year ago with another victory this season.
- Austin Somerfield (13.8 ppg) is the team's leading scorer this season but has not played since being injured against MC on January 19th. Deangelo Legier (12.3 ppg) is shooting 59% from the floor and leads the team with 23 blocked shots.
- Lason Laatsch (11.7 ppg) is shooting 41% from the three-point line, while Rashaan Benson (10.7 ppg) has a team-high 4.5 assists per game. Laatsch and Benson are the only two Argos to start all 20 games this season.
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.
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