Pensacola, Fla. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball defeated West Florida 77-72 in overtime on Friday night (December 1st). 

Both teams' offenses started cold to open the ball game, as only seven points each were scored in the opening five minutes. The first 15 minutes of the first half, both teams traded baskets offensively where neither team lead by more than four points. However, with 4:05 left in the opening half, the Argos secured their largest lead of the game at 30-23. The Choctaws would hold UWF to only four more points to finish the half and head into the break down 34-31. 

The Choctaws caught fire to start the second half, going on a 10-0 run in the opening four minutes for their largest lead of the contest thanks in part to two triple balls via Cam Brown. Although they could not pull away, MC kept the tight lead until the Argos tied it at 55 with just under seven minutes to play. The Choctaws took back the lead from a layup by Eric Fleming, who finished with nine points, and kept it for the next 6 minutes. Later, after a scoring drought that lasted nearly three minutes, UWF's Keith Hoffman drained a three to tie up the game at 64 with 1:02 remaining. Neither team could muster any points after that, which sent the contest to overtime. 

Daquarius Harris rolled in a layup a minute into the OT period, and Brown made all three free throws on a fouled deep ball attempt to give MC a 69-66 lead midway in the period. Two possessions later, MC cooks up a fantastic offensive set that leads to flush by Harris to bring it to a five point MC lead. The final two minutes saw the Choctaws successfully convert in the free throw game as Brown and Rashad Bolden hit six consecutive free throws to seal the win for MC. 

Bolden once again led the Choctaws in the scoring column with his 20 points on 7-18 shooting, and also had a team high in rebounds with 13 and assists with nine, one away from a triple-double. Brown also had a superb night with his 14 points, including three deep balls from behind the arc and a perfect 5-5 at the charity stripe. Harris also had a big night with a dozen points, going 6-9 from the floor, and added three blocks and two steals to his name as well. The Choctaws shot 48% from the floor, 42% from beyond the arc, and also won the rebounding battle 42-38. The contest saw 12 lead changes among the two teams and 16 ties. 

The Choctaws continue their road trip to face Valdosta State on Sunday, December 3rd where tipoff against the Blazers begins at 3 p.m. CT.