Tigers Drop Home Opener to Boll Weevils
Marion, AL. - The Marion Military Institute men's basketball team dropped to 0-2 on the season as they fell to the Boll Weevils from Enterprise State CC, 71-73, on their home court last night.
Both teams exchanged leads back and forth throughout the first half. ESCC came out and took an early five-point lead, 10-15, before the Tigers settled into their offense and made a small run. Jacorey Turnipseed hit from behind the three-point arc to cut the lead to 17-18 and then Larry Penn found Darius Dawson under the basket to give the home squad their first lead,19-18, with under twelve minutes to play in the first half. Enterprise answered with a layup and then Penn scored two of his eight points to give the lead back to Marion. After Desmond Ward added a layup for a 26-23 lead, the Boll Weevils hit from long range to tie the game. With Marion haviing the last possession before half, Zhavian Green tipped in a mssed shot attempt before the buzzer sounded; the Tigers held a 39-36 lead at the break.
The second half didn't look much different than the first half and both teams exhanged baskets and leads. ESCC built their biggest lead, 52-61, with under nine minutes to play in regulation. Two free throws by Turnipseed and a putback by Dawson brought the Tigers within five points but the visitors were able to put together another small run and extend the lead back to nine with under five minutes on the clock. Mark Bradwell connected on four straight free throws to the cut the lead to 62-67 before ESCC answered on their next possession. Another free throw by Bradwell was followed by two more from Turnipssed and Marion was back in the game, down 65-69. A Larry Penn putback and a steal by Desomnd Ward led to another offensive putback by Bradwell to even the score, 69-69 with 1:10 on the clock.
Enterprise scored on back-to-back possessions to give the visitors a four-point lead but Marion once again fought back with a two-point basket. The Boll Weevils had the lead, 71-73, with 14.4 seconds to play in the game and turned the ball over to the Tigers. MMI could not connect on their last attempt and suffered the two-point loss.
Jacorey Turnipseed led Marion with 19 points. Darius Dawson added 12 and Mark Bradwell finished with 11 points. Rounding out the scoring for the Tigers were: Larry Penn (8), Desmond Ward (7), Monte Wilkerson (6), Chris Brown (4), Brandon Jackson (2), and Zhavian Green (2).
The Tigers will return to the court Thursday, November 7, when they host the War Hawks from Coastal Alabama CC-East. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the William R. Ireland Athletic Center.