Meridian sweeps South Division games against Pearl River

Both Meridian Community College basketball teams came into Monday nights contest against MACJC South Division foe Pearl River Community College with identical 2-2 divisional records and in need of crucial wins at home to keep up in the division race.

The Lady Eagles trailed PRCC by one game in the South Division, as the Lady Wildcats were tied for first coming into the contest with a 3-1 division mark.

MCC jumped out to a 44-37 halftime lead over Pearl River.

Led by pre-season All America, sophomore NaDosha Strickland, who scored a game-high 24 points, MCC went on to an 86-69 victory over PRCC in the Graham Gymnasium.

Lady Eagle freshman, Tiara Parker added 18 points; sophomore Jennifer Wair scored 12 points and pulled 12 rebounds, while freshman Maranda Anderson had 7 assists for MCC.

Laterrica Booth and Brittany Lewis led Pearl River with 19 points apiece.

The Lady Eagles, now 13-3 overall and 3-2 in the division, host Southwest Mississippi on Thursday. Game time is set for 6:00 pm.

The men’s contest was a back-and-forth effort all night between Meridian and Pearl River. Both teams had the lead multiple times and the score was never separated by more than nine points for either team.

With the game tied at 62-62 with under 2:00 to play, MCC’s Mario Luckett scored back-to-back goals to boost Meridian to a 68-63 victory over PRCC.

Regis Huddleston and Otis Williams led Meridian with 16 points apiece, while Travis Thompson added 12 points. Thompson also pulled down 12 rebounds for MCC, Luckett scored 10 points.

Donta Smith led Pearl River with a game-high 17 points.

The Eagles, now 9-7 overall and 3-2 in divisional play host Southwest Mississippi on Thursday, January 24th at 8:00 pm.

**REMINDER** All MCC home basketball games can be heard on 1390 AM WMER and Comcast Cable Channel 12.