Indians fall to East Mississippi 61-50

East Mississippi 61, Itawamba 50: The effort the Indians showed Monday in its win against rival Northeast was not apparent against the division-leading Lions.

The Indians (7-9, 3-2) did show a bit of fight in the first half with a 9-0 run highlighted by a D. J. Gardner 3-pointer that gave the home team a 15-13 lead.

The Lions (5-0 in North play) answered to lead 26-21 at the half, and only led 35-30 with 14:53 to play in the second period following an Anthony McDonald 3-pointer for ICC.

"That was the moment in the game we needed to seize the opportunity," Itawamba head coach Marty Cooper said. "And we didn't.

"Our top seven or eight did not give the effort."

East went on to build as much as a 61-43 lead. No player scored in double figures for ICC, which was in second place in the division entering the contest.