The East Central Community College men's basketball team kept their season alive on Saturday with a must-win, 90-85, victory over Co-Lin in Wesson in the play-in round of the 2021-22 NJCAA Region 23 tournament. With the win, the Warriors improved to 5-16 on the year. ECCC now advances to the first round of the tournament with a trip to Booneville on Monday, Feb. 28. 

Action was back-and-forth as the game was tied on multiple occasions through the first six minutes of play. 

A Christopher Keys three-pointer sparked a quick 5-0 run as Antwan Hatten rattled home a pair of free throws to put ECCC on top, 17-12, midway through the first half. The lead was brief as the Wolves netted nine straight to regain the lead, 21-17. 

The see-saw game continued as the lead continued to trade hands over the rest of the first half. At the break, the Wolf Pack led ECCC by four, 43-39. 

In the second, the Wolves maintained their lead for the opening minutes. David Berry put the Warriors in striking distance with 13 minutes remaining with a big three-pointer, pulling the game within one possession, 63-60. Three minutes later, a James Granger tied the game at 64-all with just 10 minutes remaining in the game. 

Berry nailed another three-pointer moments later to put the Warriors on top by one, 67-66. The Warriors never gave up that lead for the remainder of the game as ECCC capitalized on trips to the free-throw line down the stretch and continued to attack the basket. 

Berry finished the night 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and led the Warriors with 22 points. Keys finished the day with 21 points, while Matthew Mackey added 19 on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. A key to ECCC's success was 20-of-26 shooting from the free-throw line. Co-Lin outrebounded the Warriors 46 to 43. 

Up Next

The Warriors travel to Northeast to face off with the Tigers on Monday, February 28 at 6 p.m.