Bulldogs shake off nerves to run past Mobile

PERKINSTON — Maybe it was a case of opening-night jitters, but Mississippi Gulf Coast's first home men's basketball game of the season got off to a bumpy start.

The butterflies didn't hang around for long Wednesday, though. The Bulldogs led by as many as 41 points on the way to a 98-65 win over the University of Mobile JV.

"We were really good the second half," Gulf Coast coach Owen Miller said. "The first half, we were a little nervy for the first home game. We settled in, and the second half got off to a big start. The depth really paved dividends. I thought they got tired."

The Bulldogs won their third straight despite a slow shooting start. They made just 4 of 14 from behind the arc in the first half, and only 3-of-10 from the line. Still, they led 49-35 at the break.

Avan Wilson (Fr., Bay St. Louis/Bay) was a key reason. He had seven of his nine first-half points in the final four minutes.

"He's a spark plug," Miller said. "He's got a lot of energy and a big motor. He's physical for his size and plays bigger than he is."

He finished with 12 points, two behind a team-high by Jabbari Barry (So., Lake Charles, La./Barbe). Mekhi Strong (Fr., Edwards/Raymond) also had 12 points, and Za'Kariyea Hamilton (Fr., Jackson/Clinton) had 10.

Five more Bulldogs had seven or more points, and 12 different players scored.

Hamilton had five steals to help the Bulldogs turn the Rams over time and again.

"We had a lot of guys play well," Miller said. "You look at our first three games, and we've got scoring spread throughout the lineup. We did that tonight. We forced 23 turnovers."

Gulf Coast is back in action Friday when they travel to Poplarville to play Calhoun in the first game of the Pearl River Classic. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs play Chattahoochee Valley at noon Saturday.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.