MCC Falls To Marion Military Institute

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles were looking to continue its recent momentum after take a huge road win at Jones County Junior College on Thursday night, but Marion Military Institute had other ideas on Sunday afternoon. Eric Russell drained a three-point basket with one minute remaining in the game and the Tigers added a pair of free throws down the stretch to take a 61-56 road victory over the Eagles.

MCC dropped its overall record to 5-12 for the season and will return to action Tuesday night at Chattanooga State beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Eagles opened the game by shooting the ball well and took a 17-14 lead over the Tigers with 12:33 left in the first half. Trent Tucker scored 10 of the first 17 points for the Eagles and Prince Williams added an early three-point baskets in the early stages of the game.

Marion Military Institute went on a 10-0 run in the final 4:27 of the first half to take a 33-25 lead at halftime. The two teams exchanged the lead eight different times in the first half and were tied three times. The Eagles slowly chipped away at the lead and took a 51-45 lead with 8:28 remaining in the game. Kaylim Noel had a three-point basket and a dunk to lead the late charge for Meridian.

The Tigers answered the run by MCC with 11 unanswered points to take a 56-51 lead with 3:59 left in the game. Russell led Marion Military Institute with five points in the 11-0 run. The Eagles answered the scoring run by the Tigers by scoring the next five points to tie the game at 56-56 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Russell put the game away for Marion Military Institute with a three-point basket and a pair of free throws in the final minute to give the Tigers the five-point road victory.

Tucker led the Eagles with 16 points and Noel had 12 points in the setback for MCC. Russell finished the game with 19 points to lead the Tigers.