Warriors Beat Co-Lin on JaMichael Wilson's Buzzer-Beater

Warriors Beat Co-Lin on JaMichael Wilson's Buzzer-Beater

The East Central Community College Lady Warriors and Warriors finally got into the win column in MACJC South Division play with a road sweep of Copiah-Lincoln Monday, Jan. 13, in Wesson.

Freshman guard JaMichael Wilson (Rayville, La.) hit a 15-foot running jumper at the buzzer as the Warriors got a dramatic 73-71 win over the Co-Lin Wolves in Graydon L. Mullen Gymnasium on the Co-Lin campus. In the women's contest that opened the evening the Lady Warriors picked up a 56-49 division win, their first over the Lady Wolves since the 2015-16 season.

The men's contest was close throughout with 17 lead changes and seven ties. Co-Lin tied the game at 71-71 with a three-point shot with 2.3 seconds to go. East Central quickly inbounded the ball to freshman guard Kareem Thompson (Florence, Ala.) who found Wilson who banked in the winning shot.

Wilson matched his career-high of 26 points to lead the Warriors. Sophomore forward JaQuarius Smith (Noxubee County) scored 12 points and Thompson added 10.

The Warriors improved to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the MACJC South Division. The Co-Lin Wolves fell to 5-7 and 0-3.

The ECCC Lady Warriors trailed after each of the first three periods of play, before moving in front 40-38 midway through the fourth period and eventually building a nine-point lead. East Central had lost six straight to the Lady Wolves. 

Sophomore guard Jariyah Covington led East Central with a game-high 24 points. Sophomore guard Mylisha Hammond (McComb) added 14 points, with 12 coming in the second half. Hammond also dished out six assists.

With the win, the ECCC Lady Warriors improved to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the MACJC South Division. The Lady Wolves are now 8-4 and 2-1.

The East Central teams play their first home games of 2020 on Thursday, Jan. 16, when Jones College visits for games at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur. Both games can be heard on WKOZ 98.3 or watched via live stream at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.