WESSON – Perseverance finally paid off for the Copiah-LincolnCommunity College men’s team in Mullen Gymnasium. The Wolves gotsome quality time and points from their bench and ambushed the EastCentral Warriors 89-77 in overtime.

Co-Lin (7-9, 1-4) placed six players in double figures, led bysophomore guard Nick Mikell’s 18 points. Elliott Cowart and JerimieCollier each had 16 points. Jeremy Richardson netted 13 points,Jason Scott 12 and Derrick Jarvis 10.

East Central (9-6, 3-2), blowing a 5-point lead in the final 4minutes of regulation, got a game-high 24 points from CoreyHornsby, a 6-4 sophomore forward from Baton Rouge (Istrouna). Withthe score deadlocked 73-73 at the end of regulation, the Warriorssaw Hornsby foul out with 4:38 left in overtime.

In the 5-minute overtime, Co-Lin built a 7-point, 83-76 lead ona trey by Mikell. The Warriors only had 4 free throws to show fortheir offense in OT, disappointing head coach Billy Smith.

“Our bench gave us a chance to get into overtime,” said Co-Linmen’s coach Dennis Sims. “Elliott Cowart came off the bench andgave us a boost. Zach Baldwin and Derrick Jarvis also gave us a biglift. Nick Mikell did a very good job on defense.”

Co-Lin had lost a series of close South Division games beforelast night. Sims said his team would practice better because of thevictory.

“This was a really big win for us, especially when you’relooking at 0-4 (in the South),” said Sims. “It gives us a chance toget back in the conference race.”

Co-Lin visits archrival Southwest Thursday night.

James Hathorn, a sophomore forward from Brookhaven, providedCo-Lin with the tying field goal and just 3.8 seconds left on theclock. He was fouled on the short jumper but was unable to convertthe free throw.

Mikell, a Lawrence County product, had provided some lateheroics, too. After missing a tying trey, he got another chance andsacked the 3-pointer, gaining a 71-71 knot with 35 seconds left toplay.

East Central’s Kevin Bobbitt made 2 free throws with 14 secondsleft to give the Warriors a 73-71 advantage. Demario Qualls, a6-foot guard from Newton, followed Hornsby with 17 points.

Scott gave the Wolves their first lead in OT at 76-74, cashingin a 3-point play with 3:49 remaining. On the backboards, Jarvisled Co-Lin with rebounds and Collier had 6.