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Belton, TX – The Mississippi College men's basketball team found an answer for the Concordia Texas defense and made late runs in both halves as the Choctaws posted an 89-78 victory over the Tornados in the first round of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament Friday in Belton. MC improves to 19-6 on the season and advances to tomorrow's semifinal. The loss ends Concordia's season with a 16-10 record.
Concordia's high-pressure defense had the Choctaws scrambling early in the game. The Tornados built a 28-16 lead with 8:05 remaining in the first half. MC answered with a 17-4 run to take a 33-32 lead and the Choctaws would lead43-36 at halftime. The Choctaws built that lead despite turning the ball over 20 times in the first half. Concordia would storm back in the second half and the Tornados took a 60-55 lead with 11:49 remaining. MC would retake the lead at 63-62 with 9:18 to go and the Choctaws quickly opened the lead up to 71-66. Concordia again fought back and cut it to 71-70 with 5:58 left, but MC just stretched the lead out from there and iced the game from the free-throw line.
Donnie Haywood topped the Choctaws with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Chazz Hawkins also reached double figures with 13 points for MC and Kendrick Black had seven points and nine rebounds. Brad Walker led four players in double figures for Concordia with 15 points. Tayler Jacobs, Nick Haynes and Kenny Williams all chipped in with 11 points apiece for the Tornados.
MC shot 53 per cent from the field and went 7-10 from three-point range in the game. Concordia shot 44 per cent from the field and 31 per cent from beyond the arc. The Choctaws turned the ball over 31 times, but out rebounded Concordia 44-28 in the victory.
The Choctaws will now advance to face tournament host Mary Hardin-Baylor in a 4:30 PM semifinal tomorrow. Mississippi College is into the second round of the ASC Tournament for the 11th time in 12 trips to the ASC Tournament.
