January 22, 2020
The East Central Community College basketball teams made the short drive east on I-20 to face MACJC South Division rival Meridian Community College Tuesday, Jan. 21, and came home with a pair of losses.
The Meridian Lady Eagles used a decisive fourth period to pick up a 61-46 win over the Lady Warriors in the opener, while the Eagles came out on top with a hard-fought 87-82 win over the Warriors in the men’s action.
The Lady Eagles broke open a close game by outscoring East Central 19-9 in the fourth period. Meridian led by just one, 29-28, at the half, and by five after three periods.
No East Central player managed to get to double figures in the loss. Sophomore guard Jariyah Covington (Starkville) and sophomore guard/forward KeiMoya Walker (Jackson, Murrah) both had nine to lead the Lady Warriors.
The ECCC Lady Warriors fell to 6-8 overall and 1-4 in the South Division. Meridian is now 5-9 overall and 2-3 in the division.
The Warriors could not capitalize on a 31-point effort by freshman guard Kareem Thompson (Florence, Ala.) in the five-point loss to Meridian. East Central led by three, 42-39, at the intermission before the Eagles outscored the Warriors by eight in the second half for the victory.
Sophomore forward JaQuarius Smith (Noxubee County) was the only other East Central player in double figures with 15. Smith also led East Central with eight rebounds.
The Warriors are now 6-8 overall and 1-4 in the division. The Meridian Eagles are also 6-8 and 1-4.
The Lady Warriors and Warriors return home to host Hinds at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. Both games can be heard on WKOZ Cruisin 98.3 or watched via live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.
East Central will travel to Summit to face Southwest in MACJC South Division action Monday, Jan. 27. Those games tipoff at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
