January 18, 2017
The East Central Community College Warriors lost a close back and forth battle against the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs 79-77 in Perkinston Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The score was tied seven times and the lead changed hands nine times in the second half alone, but a lay-up with two seconds left in the game put Gulf Coast on top for the win.
ECCC led by one at the intermission.
Five Warriors scored in double figures with sophomore Jaylon Bardley of New Hope High School putting up 22 points. Also in double figures were Tonzell Handy of Lanier High School, freshman Cameron Diggs of Blount High School (Mobile, Ala.) and freshman Cayman Ruffin of Neshoba Central High School each with 12 points. Freshman Jaylon Chiles of Biloxi High School put up 11 points early in the first half.
In the nail-biting fourth quarter, Bardley hit a long three to tie the game up at 75 with 49 seconds left, but Gulf Coast took the lead back on a dunk.
A backcourt steal and dunk by Handy tied the game again at 77 with 17.8 seconds to play, but the Warriors could not pull out the win.
ECCC moved to 6-6 on the season and 1-2 in the MACJC South Division.
The East Central men’s basketball team will be back in action hosting Copiah-Lincoln Community College Thursday, Jan. 19, in Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium in Decatur with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m.
