Tigers Drop Home ACCC Game to Saints

Marion, AL. – After a delayed start to Saturday afternoon's game, the Tigers dropped a home ACCC game to the Saints of LBW 87-84. Marion hosts Snead State Community College Monday, January 22, with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.

MMI held a 38-28 halftime lead. A two-minute scoring drought to start the second half allowed LBW to cut the lead to one point, 43-42. Marion built the lead back to ten (56-46) with under 14 minutes to play when Nicholas Cham scored on a layup.

Another scoring drought by the Tigers allowed the Saints to cut the lead to single digits and at the 7:48 mark, the game was tied at 64-64. Tyrone Wright hit two free throws to give Marion a two-point lead, but LBW scored on their next possession to even the score.

MMI put together a small run and extended the lead to four when Cham connected on two free throws. After a timeout by the Tigers, LBW took their first lead of the second half with under five minutes to play in regulation. Johnathon Crawford went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe and MMI took the lead back, 75-74. The Saints hit a deep three-pointer on their next possession and the lead once again went back to the visitors from Andalusia, Alabama. Both teams traded baskets when Crawford tied the game at 77 before LBW responded with another two free throws.

With MMI trailing by four points Wright hit a jumper from the free throw line and head coach Timothy Rodgers called a timeout. LBW could not score on their next attempt and Cham tied the game, 82-82, at the 1:08 mark. LBW scored to take a two-point lead but two free throws by Wright once again tied the game at 84-84 with just 26.6 seconds to play.

The Saints got the ball inbounds but an MMI foul put LBW back at the free throw line where they made one of two, giving the visiting team a one-point lead. Marion's Cham drove the lane on their next possession, but a jump ball gave LBW the ball back with under 5 seconds on the clock. A quick MMI foul put the Saints back on the charity stripe where they made both attempts, extending the lead to three points, 87-84.  The Tigers had one more attempt to even the score, but the three-point attempt did not go in, and MMI took the loss.

Johnathon Crawford led MMI with 21 points while Nicholas Cham added 16 points.  Tyrone Wright grabbed a team high nine rebounds with 14 points, all in the second half.  Also scoring for the Tigers - Jaylen Carrington (11), Jahmar Brown (8), Isaiah Green (6), Dashley Estime (6), and Julian Whitfield (2).