Indians hold on to defeat Meridian
The Indians jumped out to a big lead with a great first half. A comeback by the Eagles made things interesting late, but the Indians were able to hold on for the 83-75 win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
25 | 50 | 75 |
|
|
49 | 34 | 83 |
Team Stats
Meridian Community College
| Game Statistics | Meridian Community College | Itawamba CC |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (25-55) | (25-50) |
| Field Goal % | 45.5% | 50.0% |
| Rebounds | 33 | 41 |
| Assists | 1 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 11 |
Indians hold on to defeat Meridian
Lee Adams/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – The Indians jumped out to a big lead with a great first half. A comeback by the Eagles made things interesting late, but the Indians were able to hold on for the 83-75 win.
"We got off to a good start," said head coach Grant Pate. "They (Meridian) are very talented and well coached team, but our guys gave tremendous effort."
The Indians (2-3) started strong and only relinquished the lead once in the entire game when the Eagles tied it four minutes into the game. Meridian kept the game close early on, but the Indians put together a 24-4 run over the final seven minutes in the half to take a 49-25 lead at halftime.
Defense played a huge role in the Indians being able to extend their lead late in the first half. The Eagles shot only 45 percent from the floor due to the defensive pressure and the Indians were able to pick up 16 defensive boards that lead to offensive scores.
"Our defense led to some transition baskets," said Pate. "We made some shots we normally might not hit but we got on a roll."
The Indians extended their lead to 31-points (60-29) after two Barri Hill (Jasper, AL) free throws to with 15:27 remaining in regulation. Over the next ten minutes, the Indians were only able to pick up 7-points while the Eagles scored 32-points. That run pulled the Eagles within 6-points.
With their lead cut down to 67-61, the Indians bounced back and were able to pick up the 83-75 win.
"Came out after halftime and we struggled a little bit," said Pate. "It's a challenge at any level to have a great first half and have a tendency to have a letdown, but really proud of our guys and their effort tonight."
Tyrone Wooten (Memphis, TN) led the Indians with 16-points and Howard Thomas (Brandon) picked up a double-double with 14-points and 15 rebounds, and Lakee Westbrook (Tupelo) chipped in 12-points coming off the bench.
The Indians will host Snead State on Saturday for Fan Appreciation Day where all fans get free admission. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
For more information on ICC men's basketball, follow the Indians on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).