Co-Lin Wolves can’t catch Gulf Coast Bulldogs, 66-63
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 5, 2002
WESSON -Co-Lin’s roller-coaster season continued Monday night inMullen Gymnasium. The Wolves fell just short of victory again,losing 66-63 to the Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs.
“The effort was good enough for us to win but we lackedexecution on offense and defense,” said Co-Lin men’s coach DennisSims. “We missed too many shots when we got good looks at thebasket.”
In the final seconds, Co-Lin sophomore guard Bruce Smith misseda pair of hurried 3-point field goals which would have tied thegame. He went scoreless in the first half and was limited to 7points by Gulf Coast’s cat-quick guards.
Offensively, muscular sophomore post B.J. Black carried Co-Linwith 22 points and 12 rebounds. Black, standing 6-foot-4, was at aheight disadvantage as he battled Gulf Coast’s Devin Davis andJoplin Johnson, both 6-8 posts; and Willie Breland and BrandonNicholas, both 6-6 posts; in the paint.
What the South Division-leading Bulldogs (13-4, 7-1) got were 17points apiece from Breland and freshman guard Derrick Powe fromPascagoula. Powe, benched by head coach Bob Weathers in the firsthalf, got all of his points in the final 20 minutes, sacking 3treys.
Co-Lin couldn’t match the Gulf Coast arsenal. Jason Scott, a 6-5freshman guard from Natchez, scored 12 points for Co-Lin.
The Wolves (6-11, 3-4) got 6 assists from Smith. They have wonjust once in their last 5 home games.
Co-Lin claimed a 28-26 lead on a jumper by Scott early in thesecond half. A trey by Smith, with 8:13 left to play, gave theWolves their last deadlock at 49-49.
The Bulldogs got a trey from Powe and a 2-point field goal tospark a 9-4 run which put them up 58-53. A pair of free throws byBlack reduced Co-Lin’s deficit to 64-62 with 1:23 left in thegame.
A breakdown on defense allowed Gulf Coast guard Marquez Moultrieto score on an inbounds play, giving the Dogs a 66-62 advantagewith 1:07 left to play.
@Bbstandings:Gulf Coast 66, Co-Lin 63
Gulf Coast (66) Derrick Powe 17, Willie Breland 17,Taylor 6, Bostic 2, Johnson 6, Lewis 5, Morgan 2, Moultrie 9,Nicholas 2.
Co-Lin (63) B.J. Black 22, C. Smith 7, Scott 12, B.Smith 7, Cowart 0, Townsend 6, Christian 9, Mikell 0.
Halftime: Co-Lin 26-26.
Total fouls: Gulf Coast 21. Co-Lin 13. Fouledout-Nicholas. Technicals-Bostic, B. Smith, Townsend.
Free Throws M-A: Gulf Coast 7-10. Co-Lin17-25.
3-point goals: Gulf Coast 7-14 (Powe 3, Breland 2,Moultrie, Lewis). Co-Lin 2-11 (C. Smith, B. Smith).
Rebound: Gulf Coast 40 (Nicholas 5). Co-Lin 26 (Black10).
Assists: Co-Lin 15 (B. Smith 6). Steals: Co-Lin 7(Christian 2, Townsend 2).
Turnovers: Gulf Coast 12. Co-Lin 13.
Field Goals M-A: Gulf Coast 25-51. Co-Lin22-57.