Northeast routs EMCC
By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Feb. 11, 2003
SCOOBA The East Mississippi Community College Lions thought about offering a second half challenge to visiting Northeast Mississippi here on Monday night.
Then, they thought again. The Northeast Tigers went on a 13-0 run to effectively send EMCC to a 79-62 loss at Keyes Currie Coliseum.
The loss drops the the Lions to 4-17 on the season and 2-8 inside North Division play of the MACJC. Northeast improves to 3-7 and 6-15 overall.
Lions head coach Clay Armstrong was befuddled by his team's lack of heart.
EMCC led early at 9-3 but Northeast caught up. It was 19-19 when the Tigers went on an 8-0 run to go ahead 27-19. It was 32-23 at the half.
The Lions appeared ready to make a game of it in the second half. They pulled back to within six at 39-33 and had a chance to get it to four. But a pass into the lane skipped through the post and out of bounds.
Northeast then belted a knockout blow. The Tigers hit three consecutive three-pointers.
Trey Johnson sandwiched a pair around one from Taylor Rocker that ignited Northeast's decisive run. In just over a minute, the Tigers had gone from six up to 15 up at 48-33 with 13:30 remaining.
A baseline basket by Rocker and another from Deveon Nesbit made it 52-33.
The lead would grow to 28 at 68-40 before the Lion reserves began a final push in the last three minutes to make the score more respectable.
Johnson finished with 28 points to lead Northeast. Rocker added 15.
EMCC, which made just 20 field goals for the game, was led by Tramechie Evans with 11 and Ferzell Shepard had 10.
EMCC returns for its final home game on Thursday night against Coahoma.
