3rd-seed Bulldogs open postseason vs. Meridian

PERKINSTON — After missing the postseason last year, the Mississippi Gulf Coast men's basketball team storms into the NJCAA Region 23 playoffs this year as the No. 3 seed.

The Bulldogs (17-9, 9-5 MACCC) had a bye into the quarterfinals, where they'll host 11^th-seeded Meridian. The Eagles (16-12, 7-7) upset No. 6-seed Southwest Mississippi on Saturday to advance.

First-year Bulldogs coach Owen Miller is stressing to his team to treat this like another day at the office.

"You've got to stick within the things you've done all year, stay within your routines and prepare the same way you've prepared throughout the year," Miller said. "I think good teams are predicated off their routines. As much as you can keep that the same, the better your team has a chance to perform the way it can."

Tipoff at Dantzler Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., after the Gulf Coast women's team plays East Central. Tickets are available at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets, and the game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

The teams met just less than a month ago, with the Bulldogs winning 80-69 at Meridian. Omarion Smith (So., Atlanta Ga./Douglas County) led Gulf Coast with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Jabbari Barry (Fr., Lake Charles La./Barbe) had 16 points, and Anthony Robinson (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) added 14. Larry Lee (Fr., Utica/Raymond) had 12 points off the bench.

The Bulldogs forced 23 Eagles turnovers and held them to 16.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line. Michael James led Meridian with 17 points. Former Southern Miss and Mississippi Valley State coach James Green is in charge of the Eagles.

"They're a tough, hard-nosed team," Miller said. "They play really hard. The right guys shoot. They rebound the ball very well, and it's going to be a tough game for us. They beat Southwest twice last week, and obviously, we went over there and came up a little short. They're playing good basketball right now. It's going to be a tough game. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will probably win the game."

NJCAA Region 23 Men's Basketball Tournament

First Round

Saturday, March 9

Higher seed hosts

No. 9 Baton Rouge 70, No. 8 Copiah-Lincoln 65

No. 5 Holmes 81, No. 12 East Central 69

No. 10 Pearl River 74, No. 7 Itawamba 64

No. 11 Meridian 100, No. 6 Southwest Mississippi 96

Quarterfinals

Monday, March 11

Higher seed hosts

Baton Rouge at No. 1 Jones, Ellisville, 6 pm

Holmes at No. 4 East Mississippi, Scooba, 6 pm

Pearl River at No. 2 Northeast Mississippi, 6 pm

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

Semifinals

Thursday, March 14

Clinton, Miss.

Semifinal 1, 3 pm

Semifinal 2, 7 pm

Finals

Friday, March 15

Clinton, Miss.

Championship, 5 pm

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