Perkinston, MS-In an intense non-conference matchup on Monday afternoon, East Central Community College came up short against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, losing 83-78. The Warriors fought hard throughout the game but could not overcome the Bulldogs on their home court.

East Central trailed by just one point at halftime, 44-43, showcasing a strong offensive performance led by Connor Rogers, who poured in 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting. However, Gulf Coast's consistency in the second half sealed the victory as they outscored the Warriors 39-35 in the final period.

Fateh Bensalah delivered a standout performance off the bench, recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Hamza Ghoulial was efficient, adding 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Daniel Zatsepin chipped in 12. Despite their contributions, the Warriors struggled to convert at the free-throw line, shooting just 61.5% (16-of-26), which proved costly in a game decided by five points.

East Central's defense impacted, tallying nine steals, but Gulf Coast capitalized on key possessions down the stretch. The Bulldogs displayed balanced scoring and strong execution in crunch time to fend off the Warriors' late-game push.

With the loss, East Central moves to 5-4 on the season. The Warriors will look to bounce back in their next contest as they travel to Lawson State on December 2nd.