TSU's Miller Nets 30 in 70-69 Defeat at Eastern Illinois

CHARLESTON, Illinois  -- The Tennessee State men’s basketball team led by 10 points with four minutes left, but couldn’t fend off Eastern Illinois as the Tigers lost on a buzzer-beater, 70-69, on Saturday.

Guard Patrick Miller tied a career-high with 30 points on 9-of-19 shooting and added a 10-for-11 mark from the free throw line.

 

Senior Jacquan Nobles and big man M.J. Rhett also scored in the double figures for TSU (1-13, 0-1 OVC) with 14 and 10, respectively.

 

Nobles was also 4-for-7 from behind the three-point line and Rhett led the Tigers in rebounds with eight.

 

Miller got the TSU offense going with a wide-open three two minutes into the game, but TSU’s second field goal did not come until the 6:44 mark of the first half.

 

In the meantime, the Panthers (4-8, 1-0 OVC) raced out to a 28-13 lead thanks to 10-for-20 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

 

TSU’s second basket of the contest started a 10-0 Tiger run that was capped by a contested lay-in from Rhett that pulled the visitors within five with 3:25 to go in the half.

 

Nobles closed the first period scoring with a triple with 53 seconds left and TSU went into the locker room down, 33-28.

The Tigers were 1-of-14 to start the game (7.1 percent), but finished the half 6-of-12 (50 percent). TSU’s stellar free throw shooting (84.6 percent) kept the team in the game, early.

 

Nobles started the second stanza with another three, and Miller converted a fast-break layup at the 17:26 mark to tie the game at 36. It was the first time the game had been tied since it started 0-0.

 

Miller’s hoop sparked a 9-2 Tiger run to give TSU a five-point lead, and an old-fashioned three-point play by the senior later in the period made the score 59-51 with under six minutes to play.

 

The Tigers would not relent, and a great rebound by Rhett led to a quick lay-up by Kennedy Eubanks on the other end of the floor to put Big Blue up by double-digits.

 

The Panthers clawed back following a TSU timeout and rattled off seven straight points to pull within three and force another Tiger timeout at the 2:35 mark.

 

The contest remained a one-possession game until a pair of missed free throws by TSU gave EIU a chance to win the game, down by one with 20 seconds to play.

 

A pair of missed shots from inside the paint allowed Chris Oliver a rebound with just two seconds left. Oliver nailed the shot and got fouled. He missed the ensuing free throw, but EIU hung on to win, 70-69.

 

The Tigers will look to rebound t when they host Tennessee Tech on Jan. 2. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Final Box

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South Carolina Gamecocks Soar Past SSU Lady Tigers 82-40

Box Score |  Photo Gallery  | Printable Box Score Highlights  Mitchell, Dozier Coach Staley

COLUMBIA, South Carolina  -- No. 13/12 South Carolina improved to 12-1 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon with an 82-40 win over Savannah State at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks used a 14-3 run late in the first half to establish a 43-25 halftime lead and never looked back. Sophomore guard Tiffany Mitchell turned in a stellar all-purpose effort with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals to pace the team. Junior Aleighsa Welch, sophomore Asia Dozier and freshman Alaina Coates joined her in double figures with 14, 10 and 17 points, respectively, with Coates wrapping up her third double-double of the season with 12 boards.

"I'm happy for Tiffany (Mitchell) because she works so hard," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. "She is always in the gym, and she wasn't really getting a full return on being in the gym. Now she is, and she is more efficient at everything she does. She plays hard, and she always gets after it."

The Lady Tigers kept it close early, but the Gamecock defense locked in midway through the first half, launching a 7-1 run that pushed the lead to double digits at 22-12 with 6:25 left in the period. Mitchell did a bulk of the damage at the free throw line, making six trips there, hitting three, and adding a floater in the lane to Dozier's transition layup during the spurt.

Savannah State scored on consecutive possessions to get back within six, but a 14-3 Gamecock surge delivered the knockout punch. Olivia Gaines got things going with a jumper from the free throw line, and Welch added a pair of free throws. The junior forward swiped a steal and led the break down the court, feeding Gaines for a transition layup. Mitchell and Gaines combined to forced a turnover on the Lady Tigers' next possession with Mitchell hitting a pair of free throws. She swiped another steal the next time up the floor, and Welch hit a transition layup to make it a 32-16 contest with 3:37 on the clock. Kenyata Hendrix hit a three from the left wing to stem the tide, but Coates came back with a bucket on the other end, and Mitchell added two more free throws to make it 36-19 just a minute later.

The Gamecocks took a 43-25 lead into the locker room behind 20-of-27 free throw shooting, highlighted by career high makes and attempts from Mitchell, who went 10-of-14 on the way to 12 points in the opening 20 minutes.

The second half started with the Gamecocks pounding the ball inside. Welch hit in the lane to start things off. After Elem Ibiam picked up a steal on the other end, she got the ball inside and through the double team found Tiffany Davis for a 3 from the top of the arc. Dozier picked up the steal on the Lady Tigers' next trip up the floor and Mitchell led the break, finding Ibiam on the left block for her first field goal of the game. Welch continued the steal theme with a pick then got the ball back underneath, where she kicked out to Dozier for a 3 from the left corner and a 53-25 lead just two minutes into the half.

Several Gamecocks posted career-high efforts, including Welch with a team-high five assists. Davis netted a career-high eight points, and Gaines added one to her career high with seven points. South Carolina shot 51.1 percent from the field, topping the 50.0 percent mark for the eighth time this season, and made 30-of-48 from the free throw line for season highs in both makes and attempts. The Gamecocks open SEC action on Thu., Jan. 2, traveling to Arkansas. South Carolina is back at home to play Vanderbilt on Sun., Jan. 5, at 1 p.m.

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Toledo Rolls to 85-66 Win Over Coppin State to Move to 12-0

TOLEDO, Ohio  -- Toledo started strong and never trailed on Saturday afternoon as the Rockets remained unbeaten with an 85-66 triumph over Coppin State (4-8) in Savage Arena. With the victory, UT improved to 12-0 to match the 1940-41 squad for the second-longest unbeaten start to a season in school history.

Senior guard Rian Pearson paced a balanced Rocket attack with a game-high 22 points with junior guard Julius Brown (18 pts.), junior guard Justin Drummond (13 pts.) and senior forward Matt Smith (season-high 10 pts.) also scoring in double figures.

Toledo also dominated the glass for a third-straight outing with a commanding 47-25 rebounding advantage. Over its last three contests, UT has outrebounded its opponents by a 136-84 margin.

Freshman guard Jordan Lauf led the Rockets’ rebounding efforts with a season-high 10 caroms with junior forward J.D. Weatherspoon tying a season best with nine boards.

Brown also spearheaded the Rocket offense with a game-high seven assists to help UT tally 19 helpers as a team with just 11 turnovers. Toledo shot 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the field and limited the Eagles to a 39.7 shooting mark (23-of-58).

Senior guard Andre Armstrong came off the bench to lead the Eagles with 15 points.

Toledo took control in the latter stages of the opening stanza, ending the half on a 16-2 run for a 44-24 halftime advantage that was the Rockets’ largest lead after 20 minutes this season.

UT increased its lead to 22 points early in the second half before the Eagles rallied to within 71-58 with five minutes to play. Brown was able to restore the Rockets’ cushion back to 20 points at 82-62 though with a trey at the 2:06 mark.

Toledo now has a quick turnaround as it returns to action on Monday, Dec. 30 with a trip to Lawrence, KS to battle No. 16 Kansas. Tip-off time from Allen Fieldhouse which can be seen on ESPN 3 is 7:00 p.m. (CT).

Final Stats (HTML)

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No. 17 Memphis Cruises to 75-61 Win Over Jackson State

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MEMPHIS, Tennessee  -- The No. 17 University of Memphis men's basketball team (9-2) opened up a 21-6 lead and never looked back on their way to a 75-61 victory over Jackson State (4-8) on Saturday afternoon.

Michael Dixon Jr. led Memphis with 14 points while Shaq Goodwin added 13 points and seven boards. David Pellom came off the bench for the Tigers to chip in 12 points on 5-of-5 from the field while Joe Jackson totaled 11 points.

Holding a 6-4 advantage, Memphis capitalized off five JSU turnovers in the first six minutes of the game to go on a 15-2 run and build a 21-6 lead with 10:25 to play in the half.

Dixon Jr. stretched the Memphis lead even further with a basket at the 8:22 mark to make it a 27-10 game. After two free throws from Chris Crawford to extend the U of M lead to 33-14 with 5:37 to go, JSU reeled off an 11-4 run with six points coming from Treshawn Bolden over the next four minutes to cut its deficit to 37-25.

JSU would not pull any closer the rest of the half with Memphis going into the locker room up 40-28. The trio of Jackson, Dixon Jr. and Crawford accounted for 25 of the team's 40 first half points.



In the opening minutes of the second period, JSU pulled within single digits for the first time since the 15:03 mark in the first half at 41-32 following a bucket from Brandon West. However, Memphis answered with a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to push its lead to 53-32 with 12:37 to play.

JSU ended its drought 30 seconds later with a three-pointer from Julysses Nobles followed by a layup from Marcus Love to pull JSU within 16.

Memphis extended its lead back to 20 after a basket from Nick King for a 59-39 advantage midway through the half. JSU answered again with a three-point play from Nobles to bring the Memphis lead down to 14 with 8:33.

JSU would be able to get back within 11 at 65-54 with four minutes left in the game, but that deficit would not dwindle down any further in the final minutes as Memphis held on for the 75-61 win.

Memphis opens American Athletic Conference play on the road Tuesday in Tampa, Fla., when the Tigers take on USF in a televised 6 p.m. (CT) game on ESPN2.

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Washington State Cougars to Battle MVSU Devils Saturday

PULLMAN, Washington  -- Washington State University men’s basketball (6-5) returns to the hardwood after a week-long hiatus, to take on Mississippi  Valley State (3-7 as of Dec. 26), Saturday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.

• Saturday’s game can be seen on the Pac-12 Networks as Ernie Kent and Rich Waltz have the
• Bud Nameck, in his 21st year with Cougar Basketball, will have the call on the Cougar IMG Radio Network...please see the list of affiliates on page one of today’s notes.
call.
• Live updates can be found on Twitter by following @WSUMensHoops, the official Twitter account of Washington State men’s basketball.

COUGARS TO HOLD FREE KIDS’ CLINIC AFTER DEC. 28 GAME:
•  The Cougars will hold a free kids’ clinic to children grades kindergarten through sixth, that attend their game against Mississippi Valley State, Saturday, Dec. 28.
• The game starts at 5 p.m. with the clinic beginning approximately 30 minutes after the final buzzer.
• Pre-registration is required at wsucougars.com.
• More information can be found at wsucougars.com.

COUGARS VS. DELTA DEVILS:
• The Cougars and Delta Devils have met three times in the two schools’ histories, with WSU winning all three meetings.
• The two teams first met Nov. 24, 2007 at Spokane Arena as part of the Cougar Hispanic College Fund Challenge hosted by WSU, resulting in a 71-26 victory.
•  The next season WSU extended its 45 point margin to 51 with a 76-25 victory at Beasley Coliseum, Nov. 15, 2008.
• The 51-point victory marks the second largest margin of victory for WSU since 1945, while the 45 point victory ranks tied for seventh.
• The last victory came during Ken Bone’s first season as WSU defeated MVSU, 94-66, Nov. 13, 2009.

COUGARS AGAINST THE SWAC:
• Mississippi Valley State is currently a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), along with Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, Jackson State, Prairie View A&M, Southern and Texas Southern.
• The Cougars are 17-0 all-time against current members of the SWAC.
• Their first meeting with the SWAC came Dec. 9, 1989 against Texas Southern, resulting in a 1-0 victory at Moscow, Idaho.
• Last season WSU defeated two SWAC schools, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 24) and Jackson State (Dec. 13).
• WSU reached the 100-point plateau five times in those 17 games, including a school-record, 131 points against Prairie View A&M, Jan. 14, 1991.

ABOUT THE COUGARS:
•  WSU snapped its 3-game winning streak with a loss to UTEP, Saturday, Dec. 21 at Beasley Coliseum.
• The Cougars are 4-2 in home games and 3-2 at Beasley Coliseum this season. 
• Junior DaVonté Lacy leads the team with 18.9 points per game.
• He ranks sixth in the Pac-12 and 67th in the nation in scoring with 18.9 points per game, leads the league and ranks 16th in the nation with 3.4 3-pointers made per game, is tied for sixth in the conference with 1.5 steals per game, and is 14th in the Pac-12 and 63rd in the nation with a .407 3-point field goal percentage.
• Fellow-junior Royce Woolridge is contributing 10.5 points per game, as the only other Cougar scoring in double figures.
• Senior D.J. Shelton leads the team and ranks ninth in the Pac-12 and 144th in the nation with 7.7 rebounds per game.

LAST OUTING:
•  The Cougars snapped their 3-game winning streak with a 64-51 loss to UTEP at Beasley Coliseum, Saturday, Dec. 21.
• Redshirt freshman Que Johnson led the Cougars in scoring for the first time in his career, finishing with a career-high 21 points…his previous high was 14 against Pepperdine, Dec. 15.
• Johnson made a career-high 4 3-pointers, going 4-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc.
• For the second-straight game D. J. Shelton was one point shy of a double-double, finished with 11 rebounds and 9 points.
• Junior DaVonté Lacy did not hit a 3-pointer in a game for the first time since Jan. 19, 2013 against Colorado last season.
• WSU had a season-low 51 points…it’s the fewest points since scoring 54 at California last season, Jan. 12, 2013. 
• WSU’s 17 first-half point tied their lowest in a half this season…also had 17 against Purdue at the Old Spice Classic, Nov. 29.

WSU GAME NOTES

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#13 S.C. Gamecocks host Savannah State Saturday at Noon

Opponent: Savannah State
Date: Saturday, December 28, 2013, Noon
Site: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Tickets: $7 adult, $4 youth (17 and under)
Note: Arena will be cleared prior to men's game starting at 4 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports South (Andy Demetra, Debbie Antonelli)
Radio: WNKT 107.5 FM/WISW 1320 AM (Brad Muller); GamecocksOnline.com
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Series History: SC leads 5-0
South Carolina Game Notes

South Carolina Notables

• One of the offseason focuses for the South Carolina coaching staff was passing, and the work is paying dividends in assist numbers as the Gamecocks rank 37th in the nation at 16.8 per game. In the previous five seasons under Staley, the highest season average was 11.2 per game. At least 60 percent of made field goals have been assisted in eight of 12 games so far this season.
• While guard Tiffany Mitchell is the Gamecocks' leading scorer, South Carolina's offense is driven by what happens in the paint. The Gamecocks have scored 38.7 points per game in the paint - more than half of their 76.8 scoring average.
• Four Gamecocks average double figure points so far this season with two others adding at least 7.8 per game, making it the most diversified offense of the Dawn Staley era. The transition occurred while sacrificing little on the defensive end, where, despite Staley feeling her team needs to prove more in that area, the Gamecocks rank third in the nation (2nd in the SEC) by allowing just 49.0 points per game.
• Junior forward Aleighsa Welch is one of two of the SEC's top 10 rebounders to also rank among the top 15 scorers.
• Alaina Coates turned in the best shooting performance ever by a Gamecock freshman, hitting 7-of-7 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line against SC State (Dec. 22). It was the first time a freshman was perfect from both the field and free throw line (min. 5 attempts at each) in school history. She became the third Gamecock to post a perfect shooting night from the floor this season - Elem Ibiam 7-of-7 vs. Charleston Southern (Nov. 8), Aleighsa Welch 6-of-6 vs. NC Central (Dec. 2). Coates' field goal attempts made her outing against SC State tied for fourth for the best perfect game in Colonial Life Arena history.
• While Tiffany Mitchell posted her first single-digit scoring game of the season against SC State, the sophomore guard still showed the diversity of her game by tying for team-high rebounding honors (9) and leading the team with four assists. It is her all-around impact on the team that led ESPN's Graham Hayes to name her one of his "10 Rising to the Occasion."

Notes
A South Carolina Win Would...

• Give the Gamecocks a 12-1 record for the second time in as many seasons, matching the best non-conference mark under Staley and the 2002-03 mark as the best since the program first joined a conference in 1983-84
• Be the Gamecocks' sixth over Savannah State in as many meetings.

By the Numbers
1 Perfect shooting game by a freshman in South Carolina women's basketball history (min. five FGA and five FTA) - Alaina Coates vs. SC State (Dec. 22) with 7-of-7 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line
2 Players in the SEC who rank among the league's top 10 in rebounding and top 20 in scoring, including junior forward Aleighsa Welch
2 Gamecocks ranked among the SEC's top 15 scorers, one of four SEC teams to have multiple entries
3 Gamecocks ranked among the SEC's top 20 rebounders, one of three SEC teams to have three entries - Kentucky and Tennessee being the other two
3 Games this season in which five Gamecocks have scored in double figures, which had happened just five previous times in the Dawn Staley era
5 Statistical categories in which the Gamecocks rank among the nation's top five - scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage defense and blocked shots
5 Different Gamecocks who have been the team's high scorer in a game this season - Alaina Coates (Charleston Southern, at San Diego State, SC State), Aleighsa Welch (LA Tech, at Clemson, vs. UNC), Asia Dozier (CofC), Elem Ibiam (Seton Hall, Charlotte) and Tiffany Mitchell (at USC, NC Central, Winthrop)
6 Individual 20-point games this season by the Gamecock - three by Alaina Coates (CSU, at SDSU), two by Tiffany Mitchell (at USC, Winthrop) and one by Aleighsa Welch (vs. UNC)
6 Games in which South Carolina has shot at least 50.0 percent from the field this season after reaching the mark just 12 times in the previous five seasons under Staley
7 Games this season in which South Carolina has scored at least 50.0 percent of its points in the paint, including scoring 70 of 99 points against Charleston Southern (Nov. 8) inside
8 Opponents who have been held to 55 or fewer points by the Gamecocks this season, helping the Gamecocks rank third in the nation in scoring defense (49.0 ppg)
26 Points allowed to SC State by the Gamecocks (Dec. 22), the third lowest in the Dawn Staley era
26 More rebounds by the Gamecocks than SC State (Dec. 22), the second-highest rebounding margin in the Staley era
62.0 Percent of field goals made this season that have been assisted

Savannah State Series Notes
South Carolina leads the series 5-0, including wins in each of the last three seasons. In last year's 78-47 victory (Nov. 15), forward Aleighsa Welch recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Then-freshman Asia Dozier posted her first career double-digit point game with 11, including three 3-pointers.

Scouting the Lady Tigers
The Lady Tigers conclude a season long 10-game road stretch today with their final away match, before returning home on Sunday. SSU lost a close game to Alabama State in their last outing, falling 52-57 after leading 26-23 at the half on Dec. 22 in Montgomery, Ala.

Today's opponent is the second of two Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams that SSU will face this season. They fell to Mississippi State, 63-81, on Nov. 26. SSU played a record four SEC opponents last season. This is the sixth match-up between SSU and South Carolina, since the program's elevation to NCAA Division I in the 2001-02 season. The Lady Tigers are winless against SEC opponents.

The Lady Tigers are led by senior Ezinne Kalu. The Newark, N.J. native is averaging 15.0 points per game and has a 150 points overall. Freshman Tiyonda Davis leads the team in rebounds with 85, averaging 7.7 per game. Jasmine Norman and Kenyata Hendrix are both averaging at least 8.1 points per contest. The Lady Tigers are 2-4 on the road this year, an improvement over last season's 1-15 away record

Five-Second Count
For the first time in her tenure at South Carolina, head coach Dawn's Staley's Gamecocks look different - on the court and in the box score. After seasons of building around defense, Staley finally as a group that is designed for offensive efficiency. The Gamecocks are scoring more (77.5 ppg - 6th in SEC, 48th in nation) and more efficiently (.491 FG %age - 2nd in SEC, 6th in country) than at any time in the Staley era. And, after seasons of talented guards generating their own offense, Staley's 2013-14 success is predicated on getting the ball inside - three primary post players combine to score 47.5 percent of the team's points - and on ball movement creating the best shots as 62.0 percent of made field goals have been assisted, ranking the Gamecocks sixth in the SEC and 37th in the nation with 16.8 assists per game. Defense is still a staple of the program with the Gamecocks ranking third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 49.0 points per game. Only four opponents this season have scored 55 or more points against South Carolina.

December Decisions
In its 40th season of women's basketball, South Carolina is 159-79 (.668) all-time in the month of December, including a 27-7 record (.794) in the sixth season of the Dawn Staley era. The Gamecocks hold at least a .500 record in all three site possibilities during the month - 96-23 (.807) at home, 34-30 (.531) on the road and 24-24 (.500) at neutral sites.

Home Sweet Home
With comprehensive records beginning in the 1976-77 season (the third for women's basketball at South Carolina), the Gamecocks are 369-155 (.704) all-time in games played at home, including a 124-58 mark (.681) in Colonial Life Arena. In the sixth season with head coach Dawn Staley at the helm, South Carolina is 59-25 (.702) at home, including one game at Carolina Coliseum in the 2012-13 season. The Gamecocks have won 45 of their last 56 games played in Colonial Life Arena.

Make It, Take It
South Carolina is exhibiting its most efficient offense of the Dawn Staley era so far this season, leading the SEC and ranking sixth in the nation with 49.1 percent accuracy from the field. The Gamecocks have shot 50.0 percent or higher six times already this season - the most in a season under Staley. In fact, in the previous five seasons, South Carolina hit at least 50.0 percent of its field goal attempts just 12 times combined. This year's top effort was 60.9 percent against Charleston Southern (Nov. 8) - program best under Staley - followed by a 58.5 percent showing against NC Central (Dec. 2). The Gamecocks made at least 65.0 percent of their attempts in a half five times this season, including a remarkable 73.9 percent (17-of-23) in the second half against Seton Hall (Nov. 17).

Post Presence
South Carolina's trio of primary post players - Alaina Coates, Elem Ibiam and Aleighsa Welch - has been the key to the Gamecocks' offensive production so far this season. The trio has accounted for 438 of the team's 922 points this season - 47.5 percent - and is shooting a combined 64.1 percent from the field (164-of-256). Welch leads the SEC and is third in the nation in field goal percentage at .700 for 14.3 points per game (12th in SEC). Coates' perfect shooting outing for 23 points against SC State has lifted her average to 11.2 points on 64.9 percent shooting. Ibiam's strong three games before the holiday break have her scoring 11.1 points per game on 57.6 percent shooting. In all, the Gamecocks have scored 464 points in the paint this season - 50.3 percent of their total scoring.

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Second-Half Rally lifts Washington Huskies over MVSU, 95-80

SEATTLE, Washington  -- Nigel Williams-Goss and Andrew Andrews each scored 18 points and helped spark a decisive second half run as the Washington Huskies pulled away for a 95-80 victory over Mississippi Valley State Friday night.

Washington (7-5) held the Delta Devils scoreless for over five minutes as the Huskies mounted an 18-0 run to break the game open in the second half. After a layup from Jeffrey Simmons tied the game at 56 with 12:40 left to play, Washington began to pull away. Williams-Goss and Andrews forced the action by attacking the basket. Anthony McDonald finally halted the Huskies run with a layup at the 7:26 mark.

Mississippi Valley State (3-8) couldn't keep the Huskies from getting to the rim and were outclassed on the boards as well. Perris Blackwell scored 17 points with 10 rebounds as Washington out-rebounded the Delta Devils by a 51-29 margin.

Washington built a 10-point lead midway through the first half but couldn't put MVSU away before the break. The Delta Devils kept in the contest on the strength of their 3-point shooting. Mississippi Valley State was 5 of 10 from behind the arc in the first half. Meanwhile, Washington didn't convert a 3-pointer in the half, going 0 for 6.

However, MVSU was just 2 for 19 from 3-point distance in the second half as Washington took control.

A three-point play from Andrews and free throw from Mike Anderson helped the Huskies take a 22-12 lead over MVSU midway through the first half. The Delta Devils slowly closed the deficit and a pair of 3-pointers from Daniel Hurtt helped the Delta Devils close the gap to 39-35 at the half.

After a quick start to the second half from the Huskies, MVSU erased a 10-point deficit in the blink of an eye. Simmons converted a four-point play after being fouled by Washington's Darin Johnson. A pair of free throws from McDonald closed the gap to 54-50 before Washington mistakes allowed the Delta Devils to tie the game. The Huskies turned the ball over on an inbounding violation and with a careless pass under their own basket on consecutive possessions. James Currington scored baskets off both turnovers to knot the score at 54.

C.J. Wilcox also posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.

McDonald led the Delta Devils with 19 points on the night.

Box Score

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