
MGCCC press proves the difference at ECCC
Mississippi Gulf Coast's press paid dividends late Thursday, helping lift the Bulldogs to a 66-63 win at East Central.
Gulf Coast survived a last-second 3-pointer that circled the rim and spun out to pick up the victory at Decatur. The Bulldogs (14-8, 4-4 MACCC) moved past the Warriors (12-9, 3-4) into seventh.
"To come in here and hold them under 70 and win how we did, it was a really ugly game offensively both ways," Gulf Coast coach Owen Miller said. "At the end of the day, our kids showed a lot of grit and toughness and got it done defensively. That's a beautiful way to win."
Jabbari Barry (So., Lake Charles, La./Barbe) led the Bulldogs with 25 points. His old-fashioned three-point play with 4:26 left tied the game at 56. Ensuing pressure helped the Bulldogs score the next six.
East Central made a couple of baskets in the paint to get it back to a one-possession game before Za'Kariyea Hamilton (Fr., Jackson/Clinton) made the play of the game.
Inbounding the ball under the Warriors goal with a 62-60 lead and two seconds on the shot clock, Hamilton bounced the ball off an ECCC player's back. He scooped it up and scored with 1:32 left.
"You can't teach that," Miller said. "He just made a basketball play. It came at a great time. It helped put a nail in it. That was a huge play by Kari."
Aujaylen Barron (Fr., Gulfport/Harrison Central) made two free throws with 4.8 seconds left for the final margin.
Thomas Tangle (So., Standing Pine/Choctaw Central) added 12 for Gulf Coast, which is back home Monday. Tipoff against Hinds is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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