Tigers Comeback Falls Short at Home against Patriots

Marion, AL. - With back to back wins, the MMI men's basketball teams hosted the undefeated Patriots from Wallace Community College-Selma Wednesday evening for an ACCC North/South match-up.  

The Tigers started slow and fell behind 3-10 before climbing back to tie the game at 12-12 before a Jimmie Sanders' basket gave the home team their first lead.  Marion built a 16-12 lead before WCC stormed back to take a seven point lead with 6:10 remaining in the first half.  The Tigers made another small run before the end of the first period and cut the lead to three points, 24-27.

Sanders connected on Marion's first basket to start the second half to get MMI within one but both teams traded baskets with the Patriots maintaining the lead.  WCC extended their lead to double digits, 31-43, when the Tigers put together another run.  Jacorey Turnipseed hit a mid-range jumper and was followed by a layup from Desmond Ward to get within eight with under 11 minutes to play in regulation.  Wallace found another gear and extended their lead back to 11 points when MMI made their final push.  Sanders hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five and after Wallace made one of two from the free throw line, Turnipseed hit a jumper; Darius Dawson followed with a tip-in.  Marion had cut the lead to two points, 51-53, with 5:30 on the clock.

The Patriots connected on some key free throws and once again extended their lead to eight points with under a minute to play. The Tigers hit a three and put Wallace back to the free throw line.  With Marion down seven, Sanders hit from deep to cut the lead to just four points with under 30 seconds to play.  Wallace hit a shot and the Tigers once again hit from behind the three-point line to cut the lead to three, 64-67.  Two more free throws from WCC kept the Tigers from getting any closer as time ran out.  MMI dropped to 5-4 with the 64-69 loss.

Jimmie Sanders was the lone Tiger scoring in double digits, finishing with 18 points.  Jacorey Turnipseed added nine points with Desmond Ward scoring eight points.  Rounding out the scoring for Marion were: Larry Penn (7), Darius Dawson (7), Mark Bradwell (7), Zhavian Green (5), Chris Brown (2), and Monte Wilkerson (1).