WESSON – It wasn’t pretty. The Co-Lin Wolves survived 28turnovers and held off the East Mississippi Community College Lions62-52 Thursday night in Mullen Gymnasium.

The Wolves (6-1) got some inspired play from freshman reserveslast night, especially hustling post player B.J. Black ofBrookhaven. Black hustled for 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blockedshots as the Wolves overcame a sluggish start which saw themtrailing EMCC 12-2 in the opening 5 minutes of the game.

“We didn’t play our best game and started kind of slow,” saidBlack. “We finally got it together in the second half and playedbetter.”

Black had 8 of his points at halftime and Co-Lin nursed a narrow34-32 lead. Sophomore point guard Barry Whitley sparked the secondhalf surge with 11 points and finished with 15.

Sophomore guard Rod Haynes ignited with Wolves with 12 points, 6assists and 5 steals.

“B.J. Black played very well for us,” said Co-Lin coach DennisSims. “He came off the bench and did a good job. We had some otherreserves play well, too.”

Sims said his Wolves couldn’t find the right gear. “We played avery lackluster game. We had some guys playing hard but noteffectively. Our press kept us in the game.”

The Wolves, holding a 45-42 lead with 13:23 left in the game,got their press going. They ran off 8 unanswered points and led53-42 on a quick jumper by Marcus Calcote and Whitley’s 2 freethrows.

Co-Lin led by 10 points, 55-45, with 6:01 left to play whenBrandon Dickerson hit a short jumper. Quentin Christian led theWolves on the backboards with 9 rebounds.

The Lions (4-5), coached by Steve Hull, couldn’t handle Co-Lin’squickness. They got 20 points from Rashard Alonza, a muscular6-foot-6 freshman from Atlanta. Alonza also made 3 treys.

Co-Lin begins South Division play Monday night, hosting the GulfCoast Bulldogs.