MCC Basketball Falls to Hinds

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College basketball squads continued its current three-game home stand on Monday night by playing host to MACJC South Division foe Hinds Community College at the Graham Gymnasium. The Lady Eagles dropped a 65-41 loss at the hands of the Lady Bulldogs, while the MCC men lost in the second game of the evening to Hinds by a final count of 76-62. The MCC women are now 8-6 overall for the season and 2-3 in conference play, while the MCC men dropped their overall record to 2-11 and 0-5 in conference action. MCC will return to the court to close out its current three-game home stand on Thursday night by playing host to Co-Lin Community College at the Graham Gymnasium. The MCC women will play its scheduled game at 5:30 p.m. and the MCC men will follow with its game at 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Eagles opened play on Monday night against the Lady Bulldogs by holding a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the second period of the game would prove to be the downfall for MCC. Hinds outscored the Lady Eagles 19-2 in the second quarter and cruised to a 65-41 victory. Qiayon Bailey was the only MCC player to reach double figures in scoring on Monday night with 12 points.

The MCC men also experienced a run of bad luck in the second half on Monday night and lost to Hinds by a final score of 76-62. The Eagles carried a 39-33 lead into the second half of play, but Hinds went on a 19-2 run to open the second half which would carry the road team to the win. Freshman Jacques Belford led MCC in scoring with 14 points, while former Southeast Lauderdale star Johnny Knox ended the game with 12 points. Sophomore Ralphael Shaw also turned in a solid performance for the Eagles with 11 points in the loss to Hinds.