Wolves Come Up Short Against Indians

WESSON – The Co-Lin Men's Basketball team resumed MACCC play by hosting Itawamba on Monday, February 24. The Wolves made a valiant comeback effort in the game, but the Indians held on for a 91-83 win.

The teams opened the game trading baskets and leads as ultimately the Wolves held an 8-7 lead with 16:23 left to play. The Indians responded with a 12-7 scoring run to take a 19-15 lead with 12:03 left on the clock. The Indians then used a 7-6 scoring run to push their lead to 26-21 with 6:24 remaining. The Wolves responded with an 11-6 scoring run to tie the game at 32-32 with 2:47 left in the first half. The Indians then closed out the half with nine unanswered points to hold a 41-32 lead over the Wolves as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

The teams matched scoring outputs over the opening minutes of the second half with 11 points each as the Indians held a 52-42 lead over the Wolves with 16:03 remaining. The Indians then used an 11-7 scoring run to push their lead to 63-49 with 12:52 left on the clock. The Wolves then responded with an 11-2 scoring run to cut the Indians lead down to 65-60 with 9:36 left to play. The Indians then used an 8-6 scoring run to push their lead to 73-66 with 5:37 left to play in the second half. The Wolves then used a 7-5 scoring run to cut the lead down to 78-73 with just under three minutes to go. The Indians then closed out the game with a 13-10 scoring run to hold off the Wolves comeback attempt and seal the 91-83 win.

Deven Bates (Jackson) led the way for the Wolves as he posted a double-double with 23 points and ten rebounds along with three assists and one steal while Dakotah Hillard (Hazlehurst) narrowly missed a double-double with 21 points and seven rebounds. Prince Ojukwu (Etobicoke, Ontario) and Keisean Shields (Atoka, OK) had 14 points each with Ojukwu adding six rebounds, three assists, and one block to his night.

Antonio Oatis (Hattiesburg) had five points, Javian Watkins (Jackson) had four points, and Dawson Knox (Brookhaven) had two points to round out the scoring for the Wolves.

Co-Lin is now 10-14 overall, 2-10 in MACCC play, and will hit the road for their final regular season road game against Meridian on Thursday, February 27. Tip-off between the Wolves and Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m. at Graham Gymnasium.