Bulldogs fall to No. 17 ICC on the road

Mississippi Gulf Coast faced a familiar problem on the road Thursday night, falling behind big early and having to try to climb back.

The Bulldogs got within shouting distance of No. 17 Itawamba but eventually lost 83-71.

Darius Dawson (So., Sumter S.C./West Florence) led Gulf Coast with another double-double, scoring 28 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds.

Gulf Coast (9-12, 3-6 MACCC) fell behind by 18 midway through the first half, but Dawson had 12 points in a 26-13 run by the Bulldogs that saw them go into halftime down 50-45.

They got within four in the first minute of the second half, but the Indians (17-2, 7-1) pulled away and led by double digits most of the rest of the way.

JaVon Anderson (So., Columbia S.C./Ridge View) was the only other Bulldog in double-digits with 13 points. Donovan Sanders (So., Walls/Lake Cormorant) had 13 assists while playing every second.

Itawamba shot nearly 55 percent from the floor in the first half, including nearly 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc.

Gulf Coast returns to action Monday at Dantzler Arena. Tipoff against Meridian in Perkinston will be at 6 p.m., and 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.