ALBANY, Ga. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team defeated Central State University 59-56 this Sunday afternoon (November 12th) in the second and final game of the GSC-SIAC Crossover. 

To start the game, Cam Brown had a quick five points, including a deep ball, to get the Choctaws offense going in the first three minutes. However, both offense struggled to get their engines going as midway through the first half, the Choctaws trailed 15-12. Then, with just over five minutes remaining in the opening half, MC went on a 14-4 run to take a 28-23 lead going into the break, thanks in part to Dekyre Fuller for his six points during that stretch. 

Again the offenses for both squads sputtered coming out of the break, as the Choctaws only scored six points in the first seven minutes of the final half to the Marauders eight points in the span. With the Choctaws leading 45-39 with six minutes remaining, Rashad Bolden activated his takeover, going 8-for-9 and scoring 17 straight points for the Choctaws, including two triples balls that came in the most clutch of times. Despite shooting 2-of-13 from the field before his streak, Bolden finished the contest with 28 points. Although the Marauders fought back with an 8-2 run in the closing 45 seconds, the Choctaws picked up their first win of the 2023-2024 campaign. 

It was a contest that was also littered with fouls, as MC totaled 24 personal fouls and had Central State shoot 27 free throws. Thankfully for the Choctaws, the Marauders only made 18 of them. The Marauders fouled MC 14 times, and the Choctaws went 6-for-11 from the charity stripe. Additionally, the defense stepped up and forced 22 Marauder turnovers to MC's 17. On the game, the Choctaws shot 25-52 from the floor for a 48% clip, and also made a trifecta of threes on 12 attempts. The Blue and Gold defense held Central State to a 41.3% mark from the floor on the afternoon and did not record a triple ball on six attempts. 

With Bolden leading the way offensively, no other Choctaw scored in double digits as Fuller finished with eight points, along with both Lucas Heflen and Gabe Johnson tallying six a piece. Even with the win, the Choctaws lost the rebounding battle 32-20 and were only able to pull in one offensive rebound to the Marauders 10. 

Up next for the Choctaws (1-1) is an exhibition at Samford University this Tuesday, November 14th. Tip-off at the Pete Hanna Center is set for 6:30 p.m.