CLARKSDALE– The Coahoma Mighty Tigers and Itawamba Community College went at it on Jan. 19, 2018. The Tigers had a one-point lead with 24 seconds to go. Itawamba scored four straight points to get a 62-59 victory.
Both teams renewed acquaintances on Monday Night at The Pinnacle and played an absolute classic. Coahoma had plenty of opportunities to get payback. Itawamba answered the challenge by making big plays late in the game and survived 75-69.
The Tigers took an early 11-8 lead with consecutive three-pointers by Malik Bailey and Quintarius Boatman. Itawamba answers with a three-pointer by Casey McQueen tying the game 11-11. Kendrick Fountain knocks down a three-pointer to give the Indians a 16-12 lead.
Daquon Morris scored consecutive layups tying the game 16-16. Brian Halums scored a layup to give Itawamba a 20-16 lead. Bailey knocks down another three-pointer cutting the lead to 23-21.
Itawamba (8-10, 3-6 MACJC North) biggest lead was six in the 1st half. Coahoma kept fighting to stay in the game. Morris scored a driving layup and three-point play tying the game 41-41 at the half.
Morris continued his scoring spree starting the second half. He scored a driving layup giving Coahoma a 43-41 lead. The Indians answers 44-43 with a three-pointer by Eric Brown. Bailey and Boatman came up big again with consecutive baskets giving Coahoma's biggest lead 48-44.
Itawamba gets right up and goes on a 9-0 run. Paris Harris scored a driving layup giving the Indians a 53-48 lead. Marcus Summerville gets the crowd rocking with a putback dunk cutting the deficit to 53-50. Joshua Greer answers with a driving slam extending the lead to 57-50.
Summerville knocks down a three-pointer cutting the deficit to 62-59. Harris answers with a dunk extending the lead 64-59. The Tigers made one more push in the game. Morris scored a layup cutting the lead to 67-64. Itawamba stepped up with big plays at the right time. Halums scored consecutive baskets giving the Indians a commanding 71-64 lead.
Itawamba had four players that scored in double figures. Halums led the Indians with 23 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tre Jenkins scored 12 points including four 3 pointers. Fountain finished with 11 points. Harris finished with 10 points and three rebounds.
Coahoma had three players that scored in double figures. Morris led the Tigers with 22 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Boatman finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Bailey finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and three steals.
Coahoma goes to (3-17, 1-8 MACJC North) on the season. They will continue MACJC Northern Division action against Northwest Mississippi Community College. The game is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Senatobia, MS.
It will be part of a doubleheader preceded by Coahoma vs. Northwest Mississippi women's game at 5 p.m.
The game will broadcast live at www.coahomasports.com/watch. Pregame will be at 4:55 pm.
