CLEVELAND, Miss. --- Mississippi College won a thriller on Saturday evening, defeating Delta State by a final score of 62-60 in Gulf South Conference play.
The Statesman jumped out to a 19-13 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half, before a 5-0 run by MC, pulled the Choctaws to within one-point, 19-18, with 7:20 on the clock.
MC tied the game up at 25-25 at the 4:32 mark in the first half, eventually taking the lead over Delta State, as MC entered the locker room leading 34-32 at the half.
The Choctaws took a seven point advantage with 13 minutes in the second half, yet the Statesman climbed back on an 8-0 run, taking a 48-47 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Again, the Choctaws used a 7-2 stretch to take regain a six point lead, 55-49 over the Statesman with just under eight minutes left.
However, DSU responded with an 8-0 run, taking a two point lead, 57-55, at the 2:33 mark of the game.
A 6-0 run by MC once again put the Choctaws up four points, 61-57, with just over one minute remaining. Clutch free throws down the stretch in the final minute allowed MC to hold onto the close victory, 62-60, as MC inched closer in their chances at earning a GSC Tournament berth.
As a team, MC shot 24-of-47 from the field with 36 points in the paint. MC had two scorers with double-digit points, with
Galen Smith leading the way with 16 points on the night. Smith also led the team with seven rebounds.Â
Trey Bates III put together an impressive outing with 13 points scored on a team best three 3-pointers made. Â
Miles Miller had seven points scored on the evening, while also pulling in a team best seven assists in the win.Â
With the win, MC matches their most wins in a season (15 wins) since the 2011-12 season (15 wins in Division III) and most Division II wins since the 1995-96 season (17-8 overall; 8-4 GSC play).
MC improves to 15-12 overall on the season and 11-12 overall in GSC play. They return to action for a chance to punch their ticket to the Gulf South Conference tournament versus West Georgia on Wednesday night. Both teams tip-off beginning at 7:30 p.m. inside the A.E. Wood Coliseum for senior night.
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