Big rally lifts MGCCC

Mississippi Gulf Coast unleashed a 1-3-1 zone to totally turn around its game Thursday at Jones County, rallying for a huge 71-63 win in Ellisville.

"I didn't think we played exceptionally well, especially at the beginning of the game," Gulf Coast coach Wendell Weathers said. "They just kept doing what we do. They're starting to believe in themselves and what we're doing. They never panicked and just stayed the course."

Dedoch Chan (Fr, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) had 24 points to lead MGCCC, extending his streak scoring 20-plus points to seven games. DaJuan Moorer (Fr, Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic) had 15 points, LaRaymond Spivery (Fr, Lucedale/George County) scored 13 and Qua'darius Green (So, McComb/McComb) added 10.

Gulf Coast improved to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the MACJC South Division. The Bulldogs are tied for second in the division, a game back of Copiah-Lincoln and tied with archrival Pearl River with two to play.

They knocked Jones (11-10, 6-6) two games behind the Bulldogs. JCJC and Southwest are tied for fourth.

The Bulldogs need to win one more game to clinch berths in the MACJC and Region 23 Tournaments. PRCC makes the short trip to Perkinston on Monday for Sophomore Night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30. Gulf Coast won the first meeting 77-66.

At Ellisville, Gulf Coast fell behind 8-0 in the early going and trailed by nine at halftime.

The Bulldogs were down 49-36 with 13:20 to play before going on a 35-14 run to surge past the Bobcats and pull away. They switched from a 3-2 zone to the 1-3-1 to great effect.

"We changed defenses, and it made all the difference in the world in what Jones couldn't do," Weathers said. "There was just nowhere for them to go. It pushed them out on the floor, and I don't think they were expecting us to play that. They did not look very organized."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.