Bulldogs score 66 in second half to win

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast's second-half explosion sent the Bulldogs to the Christmas break with a big 92-83 win over Pensacola State on Wednesday, avenging a loss to the same team in Florida three weeks ago.

Gulf Coast scored 66 points in the final 20 minutes to overturn a six-point halftime deficit and extend a win streak to four.

"I hope this group is beginning to understand our offense gets going through our defense," Bulldogs coach Owen Miller said. "We got the game going fast in the second half. Our press got turned up, and I thought depth is what won the game. They were tired."

Duran Parish (Fr., Biloxi/Biloxi), recovering from illness, came off the bench to score a game-high 29 points. He was 10-for-15 from the field, including 3-of-4 behind the arc.

Gulf Coast (6-4) turned over the Pirates (9-4) 15 times in the second half and 24 times in the game.

A key 19-second sequence resulted in an 8-0 run that gave Gulf Coast only its second lead of the night. Jabbari Barry (Fr., Lake Charles La./Barbe) nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and Jabarie Robinson (So., Raymond/Raymond) stole a ball quickly off the inbound and scored a layup.

The Pirates got the ball across halfcourt, but a turnover quickly wound up in Robinson's hand. He made a layup, got fouled and made the old-fashioned three-point play for a 48-46 lead.

Pensacola State had an and-one of its own to retake the lead briefly, but Bulldogs were in the middle of an 18-8 run that gave them a lead they'd never relinquish.

Robinson had 15 points, and Omarion Smith (So., Atlanta Ga./Douglas County) added 13.

The Pirates shot a deceptive 72 percent in the second half, but the turnovers were the difference. Gulf Coast overcame a slow start behind the arc to shoot nearly 40 percent for the game. The Bulldogs shot nearly 51 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free-throw line. They made 25 free throws while PSC shot just 15.

"I didn't think we had any urgency, that chip on our shoulder to start the first half," Miller said. "We just kinda waded our way through it. Defensively, we were really bad."

Gulf Coast returns to action Jan. 4 when Royal Ambassadors visit Dantzler Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

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