Choctaws survive double overtime against West Florida

Published 12:30 am Sunday, February 8, 2015

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Mississippi College men’s basketball team needed double overtime to pick up their third consecutive victory, a 92-88 win over the University of West Florida on Saturday afternoon at the UWF Field House.

The Choctaws (10-9, 8-9 GSC) trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but a late run cut the Argonauts’ (7-16, 3-14 GSC) halftime lead to just 38-33.

Junior Tristan Moore took things over in the second half and both overtimes, scoring 21 of his career-high 28 points. The Senatobia native went 11-of-26 from the field with a career-high 12 rebounds, three steals and three assists.

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“We did a very good job of executing down the stretch,” said Moore. “We never lost our composure. Attitude is everything.”

After trailing by as many as seven points in the second half, MC came back to tie the game at 48-48 with 12:08 remaining on a layup by junior Tory Rice. The Starkville native tallied his 12th double-double of the year with 20 points and 13 rebounds, going 10-of-15 from the free throw line.

UWF would push the lead back out to six, but a layup by Moore with 35 seconds remaining tied the game at 69-69, and the Argonauts missed a three-pointer, sending the game into overtime.

In the first extra period, the Choctaws took an 80-77 lead with 1:32 remaining, but Jason Laatsch nailed a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining and send the game to a second overtime.

The Choctaws jumped out to an 89-86 lead after a three-pointer by junior Johnny Rucker with 2:25 remaining. Rucker finished the game with 18 points and a team-high four assists.

After the two teams traded points, freshman Stacey Mack iced the game with a free throw with eight seconds to go. Mack finished the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds, recording his second double-double of the season.

The Choctaws shot just 38% (29-of-77) from the field, but they outrebounded the Argonauts, 59-38, and scored 42 points in the paint and 11 fast-break points.

Laatsch led the Argos with 23 points, going 9-of-15 from the field andn 4-of-7 from the free throw line. UWF had four players foul out in the contest, as they were called for 34 personal fouls.

The Choctaws will be back in action on Thursday night when they return home to host North Alabama at 8:00 p.m. in A.E. Wood Coliseum.

BY: Mississippi College Sports Information