The Warriors of East Central Community College in Decatur battled back from an 18-point deficit on Monday afternoon against the Coahoma Community College Tigers but lost the MACCC matchup by five, 86-81. The loss dropped the Warriors to 9-5 overall and to 0-2 in conference play. The Warriors continue conference play next Tuesday, January 17 as the team travels to Hinds in Utica to take on the Bulldogs at 6 p.m. 

The action was tight in the first four to five minutes of the game, but the Tigers began to control the contest midway through the first frame with key second-chance baskets after offensive rebounds. The lead ballooned to double-digits in the final eight minutes of the first half, despite strong efforts from ECCC's TaiReon Joseph and David Berry. At the break, the Warriors trailed by 11, 47-36. 

The Tigers continue to crash the boards in the second half, but with less than five minutes to play the Warriors roared back to life, Big baskets from Julius Ellerbe, Christian Freeze, Joseph and Berry quickly closed the gap and pulled the Warriors within two possessions, 80-74. In the final two minutes, the tigers made some key free throws to hold off the Warriors and secure the win. 

Joseph led the Warriors with 35 points on 11-of-25 shooting, while Berry added 20. Freeze came off the bench to chip in 13 after hitting 2-of-4 three-pointers. Ellerbe led the way on the glass for ECCC with 16 rebounds, in assists with seven, and in steals with five.