The East Central Community College Warriors went up against the No. 24 Itawamba Indians on Thursday night in Decatur but fell short 80-68. The loss dropped the Warriors to 10-6 overall on the year and to 1-3 in MACCC play, while the Indians improved to 15-1, 4-0, with their one loss coming to the Warriors in the non-conference portion of the season in the fall semester. 

The action was tight for the opening 10 minutes of the first half as the lead changed hands six times, but a three-pointer from ICC's Rock Robinson opened a 10-2 ICC run that stretched the lead Indian lead to 21-7 and set the tone for the remainder of the night. ICC maintained that lead until the half as the Warriors headed to the locker room down by nine, 33-24. 

The Warriors, coming off a 107-100 win over Hinds, continued to struggle offensively in the second half as the shots just weren't falling. The biggest Warrior push came at the 13-minute mark as ECCC fired off an 11-4 run. The offensive burst came from shots from Julius Ellerbe, David Berry, Antwan Hatten, and a pair of free throws from Tai'Reon Joseph, but the run only cut the lead to ICC lead to eight, 57-49. 

Itawamba pulled back out to a double-digit in the final minutes to secure the win, 80-68. 

Berry led the Warriors with 18 points on the night, while Joseph chipped in 15 after hitting seven free throws. Ellerbe rounded out the Warriors' top scorers with 12 points and four assists. Hatten came off the bench to lead the way on the boards with nine rebounds. 

Josh Lee led ICC with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while George Marshall added 14. Jaden Webb finished with nine points and 16 rebounds. ICC outrebounded the Warriors 57 to 45. 

The Warriors are on the road on Monday, January 23 as the team travels to Meridian to take on the MCC Eagles at 6 p.m.