Bulldogs can’t close comeback in Decatur

Mississippi Gulf Coast battled back from a big first-half deficit in MACCC men's basketball action Thursday, but couldn't finish off the comeback and lost 80-78 to East Central in Decatur.

The Bulldogs trailed by 18 late in the first half and went to the locker room down 48-44. They clawed their way back to within 78-75 with 1:45 after a make by Donovan Sanders (So., Walls/Lake Cormorant).

Gulf Coast missed a 3-point attempt that would have tied it with about a minute left, then missed a put-back. After a defensive stop, the Bulldogs missed another 3-pointer with 15 seconds left that still would have tied it.

East Central made a pair of free throws with 11.7 seconds left to ice it. Javeon Gordon (Fr., Mount Olive/Mount Olive) hit a buzzer-beating 3 for the final margin.

Gulf Coast falls to 8-11 overall, 2-5 in MACCC play. ECCC is 11-7, 2-4.

Gordon led the Bulldogs with 23 points. Sanders and Darius Dawson (So., Sumter S.C./West Florence) had double-doubles. Sanders had 14 points and 11 assists, while Dawson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. JaVon Anderson (So., Columbia S.C./Ridge View) finished with 11.

ECCC shot nearly 56 percent in the first half, but Gulf Coast slowed the Warriors down after the break. They shot 37 percent in the second half.

The Bulldogs made 6-of-16 from behind the arc in the second half to get back in the game.  They were just 1-of-11 in the first 20 minutes. Gulf Coast had 18 turnovers.

The Bulldogs are back at home Monday. Hinds visits Dantzler Arena, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.