CLINTON — The Co-Lin Wolves are on the prowl. They are lookingfor the NJCAA Men’s Region 23 championship. Monday night at A.E.Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College, the Wolves camea step closer to that goal with a 91-77 win over the EastMississippi Community College Lions in opening round action.

In the other men’s games last night, Southern University ofShreveport nipped Itawamba 77-70, Northwest plugged Pearl River74-61 and Hinds came back to beat Coahoma 73-69,

Today’s games feature the women’s teams. East Central meets GulfCoast at 1 p.m., Mississippi Delta faces Jones County at 3,Meridian tangles with Northwest at 6 and Northwest squares offagainst Holmes at 8.

The men play the afternoon semifinals schedule on Wednesday withCo-Lin meeting Southern Shreveport at 1. Hinds tangling withNorthwest at 3. The women play the 6 and 8 games.

The championship matches are set for Thursday, at 6 for thewomen and at 8 for the men.

Co-Lin 91, East Mississippi 77

The Wolves (21-7) placed four players in double figures lastnight. Powering Co-Lin was sophomore guard Ledell Eackels with agame-high 25 points, six rebound, two steals and two assists.Freshman guard Joe Holliday fired in 24 points and had fourassists. Coming off the bench and playing with a taped ankle wassophomore guard Dexter Middleton who finished with 12 points, sevenrebounds, three steals and three assists. Netting 10 points wasfreshman forward Arvel Keys who also had three rebounds, two stealsand two assists.

At halftime, the Lions led the Wolves 41-38. Co-Lin cruised to a9-0 ;lead before East Mississippi’s Edwond Eddings hit a field goalwith 15:49 in to the first half for the Lions first points in thegame.

The Lions battled back to take a seven-point, 41-36, lead overthe Wolves before Holliday hit a jumper at the buzzer to cut thedeficit to five points, 41-38.

“We played better defense in the second half,” said Co-Lin men’shead coach Dennis Sims after the win. “We got a lot of steals forsome easy baskets.

Co-Lin sophomore guard Brandon Caston opened the second halfwith a trey to tie the game at 41-all. The last lead for the Lionswas at the 18:21 mark when they were up 45-43. Holliday’s layuptied the game as the Wolves went on a 7-0 run for a 52-45 lead with16:09 remaining in the game.

Co-Lin never allowed Mississippi Delta to get any closer thannine points in the second half.

” Arvel Keys had a good game tonight.” continued Sims. “LedellEackels was tough to guard.

Sims also complimented Middleton for his play as a top reservelast night. Sims decided not to start Middleton who was limping onhis injured ankle during the pre-game warmups. Middleton hadinjured his ankle last Wednesday during the state tournamentsemifinals at Co-Lin.

Middleton saw action in the second half and helped the Wolves tothe win. “Middleton is coming off an ankle injury,’ explained Sims.”He didn’t start. We put him in the second half.”

For Clay Armstrong’s Lions, Boo Ramsey led the way with 20points, including five 3-pointers. Jarvis Williams pumped in 11points followed by Dupree Hall with 10.

“We played well enough to win,” added Sims. “We will have ourhands full (with Shreveport). It will be a new opponent. Our kidshave to be ready.”

Southern Shreveport 77, Itawamba 70

In the first game of the day, Derrick White paced Southern Uwith 25 points. Turmaine Rice netted 17 points. Scoring 11 wasMarty Kizer.

Itawamba got 18 points from Demetrius Shannon. CourtneyGilleylen had 17 points followed by Reggie Gunn with 13.

Northwest 74, Pearl River 61

The powerful NW Rangers got 14 points from Adrian Banks. Scoring12 points was LaDarius Johnson followed by Lamar Sanders with 11and Byron Rey with 10.

Alton Robinson’s 18 points sparked Pearl River. Jeremy Holdenmade 10 points.

Hinds 73, Coahoma 69

Hinds was led to the win on Keron Jackson’s 19 points. Scoring14 points was Cedric Webb.

Richard Cannon’s game-high 22 points powered Coahoma. JoshArmstrong followed with 18 points.