January 26, 2012
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Hot-shooting Mississippi College turns away LeTourneau 78-61
By Erik Holth
Special to LETUAthletics.com
LONGVIEW – The Mississippi College Choctaws shot 65 percent from the field en route to a 78-61 win Thursday over the LeTourneau YellowJackets.
At LeTourneau's Solheim Arena, the Choctaws made 12 of their first 14 shots and never looked back as they took a 29-15 lead midway through the first half. Mississippi College players shot 32-of-49 from the floor.
Tuskegee University transfer Trevon Malone scored 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting to lead the Choctaws (4-12, 3-10 American Southwest Conference), who snapped a five-game losing streak.
Deitrich Williams (Fort Worth, Texas/Grace Prep) scored 15 points to lead the YellowJackets (3-15, 2-12 ASC East). Williams made two 3-pointers during the contest as he reached double-figures for the ninth time in 11 contests.
Cristian Driver (Houston, Texas/Atascocita) scored 13 points for the YellowJackets and Kendrae Carter (Houston, Texas/Crosby) added 10 points for LeTourneau.
Senior point guard Jourdan Hughes (Dallas, Texas/SW Christian College) scored six points and tallied team-highs of four assists and five steals for the YellowJackets.
The Choctaws led by as many 15 points in the first half, but a 10-4 LeTourneau run over the last 3:08 of the period cut Mississippi College's lead to 43-34 by halftime.
After the Choctaws struck first in the second half, Driver pulled the YellowJackets to within eight points with a pair of 3-pointers. Driver, who shot 3-of-7 from behind the arc during the game, cut MC's lead to 50-42 with 13:33 remaining in the game.
The Jackets, however, would get no closer as Mississippi College used its inside presence to reclaim a double-digit advantage. The Choctaws outscored LeTourneau 11-2 between the 13:33 and 8:56 marks of the second period to take a 61-46 lead.
Mississippi College outscored LeTourneau in the paint by a 44-22 margin. The YellowJackets, however, won the turnover battle 18-14 and were a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line.
LeTourneau will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host the Wildcats of Louisiana College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm.
Saturday's contest will mark the final day of LeTourneau's "Make a Change in 14 Days" campaign. Players from LeTourneau's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will again be collecting change during Saturday's game as part of the ASC-wide initiative. Proceeds collected by LeTourneau's SAAC members will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Longview.
Erik Holth is the play-by-play announcer for LeTourneau basketball. Tune into LETU's next internet broadcast provided by Stretch Internet.
