MGCCC men will host Holmes

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast will host its NJCAA Region 23 Men's Basketball Tournament first-round game on Monday when Holmes visits.

Gulf Coast (16-7) is the seventh seed based on region standings, while Holmes (11-12) is the 10-seed. Tipoff will be at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed at https://livestream.com/mgcccbulldogs/events/10198620. 

Neither team qualified for the MACCC Tournament, which means they've had a week off to recuperate from a tough regular season and get ready.

"We're taking care of ourselves," Gulf Coast coach Tim Ryan said. "We just found out who we're playing. We've taken a couple day rest. We've been practicing getting ourselves better and working on the things we need to work on to be a better team."

It will be the second trip to the Weathers-Wentzell Center this season for Holmes. Gulf Coast won the MACCC regular-season opener for both teams 75-62 on Dec. 2.

Carr Thiam (So., Wharton/Tampa, Fla.) led Gulf Coast with 16 points, and Anthony Ratliff (So., Terry/Jackson) had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double. 

Tyler Talley had 14 points and seven rebounds for Holmes, and Caleb Campbell also scored 14.

"We know they play man-to-man and they're well-coached," Ryan said. "They are a team that's been in games with everybody all year. They're kind of like us. They've had a slower start and come on stronger at the end of the year."

Holmes won five of its last six regular-season games to make a late run at an MACCC Tournament berth.

It's the second straight season these teams have met in the first round of the Region 23 Tournament. Holmes won 96-89 in Goodman last year, although it was a one-possession game in the final minute. Holmes went on to win the region championship and play in the national tournament.

"Some of the guys have brought it up already," Ryan said. "We haven't met yet since we found out who we're playing, but we will talk about that."

NJCAA Region 23 Men's Basketball Tournament

First Round

Friday, Feb. 25

No. 17 Coahoma at No. 16 Delgado

Saturday, Feb. 26

No. 19 Mississippi Delta at No. 14 Baton Rogue

No. 18 East Central at No. 15 Copiah-Lincoln

Second Round

Monday, Feb. 28

Delgado/Coahoma winner at No. 1 Pearl River

Copiah-Lincoln/East Central winner at No. 2 Northeast Mississippi

Baton Rouge/Mississippi Delta winner at No. 3 Meridian

No. 13 Itawamba at No. 4 East Mississippi

No. 12 Hinds at No. 5 LSU Eunice

No. 11 Southern-Shreveport at No. 6 Jones

No. 10 Holmes at No. 7 Gulf Coast, 6 p.m.

No. 9 Southwest Mississippi at No. 8 Northwest Mississippi

Second Round

Tuesday, March 1

Games played at highest-seeded team

Southwest/Northwest winner vs. Delgado/Coahoma/Pearl River

Holmes/Gulf Coast winner vs. East Central/Copiah-Lincoln/Northeast winner

Southern-Shreveport/Jones winner vs. Delta/Baton Rouge/Meridian winner

Hinds/LSU Eunice winner vs. Itawamba/East Mississippi winner

Semifinals

Friday, March 4

Played at A.E. Wood Coliseum, Clinton

Final

Saturday, March 15

Played at A.E. Wood Coliseum, Clinton

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.