Bulldogs finish 3rd in MACCC standings

SUMMIT — Mississippi Gulf Coast lost its final regular-season game Thursday night, but it didn't affect their postseason positioning at all.

The Bulldogs fell 93-87 at Southwest Mississippi to finish third in the MACCC. That's the seed they'll take to the NJCAA Region Tournament, and they'll play the winner of No. 6 Southwest against No. 11 Meridian on Monday at Dantzler Arena.

Gulf Coast (17-9, 9-5 MACCC) missed 9 of 13 free throws in the first half and trailed by eight. The Bulldogs were behind by as many as 17 in the second half but fought back to get within three in the final minute.

Omarion Smith (So., Atlanta Ga./Douglas County) made 9-of-13 shots from the field, including a powerful array of dunks, to lead the Bulldogs with 25. He also had a team-high eight rebounds.

Jabbari Barry (Fr., Lake Charles La./Barbe) had 18 points, and Anthony Robinson (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) had 16. Duran Parish (Fr., Biloxi/Biloxi) finished with 10.

Southwest is 17-12, 8-6.

NJCAA Region 23 Tournament

First Round

Saturday, March 9

Higher seed hosts

No. 9 Baton Rouge at No. 8 Copiah-Lincoln, Wesson, time TBA

No. 12 East Central at No. 5 Holmes, Goodman, time TBA

No. 10 Pearl River at No. 7 Itawamba, Fulton, time TBA

No. 11 Meridian at No. 6 Southwest Mississippi, Summit, time TBA

Quarterfinals

Monday, March 11

Higher seed hosts

Copiah-Lincoln-Baton Rouge winner at No. 1 Jones, Ellisville, time TBA

Holmes-East Central winner at No. 4 East Mississippi, Scooba, time TBA

Itawamba-Pearl River winner at No. 2 Northeast Mississippi, time TBA

Southwest-Meridian winner at No. 3 Gulf Coast, Perkinston, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Thursday, March 14

Clinton, Miss.

Finals

Friday, March 15

Clinton, Miss.

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