Tigers Hold on for Home Win

Marion, AL. – Quandre Burroughs and Anthony Bryant combined for 59 points in the MMI men's basketball win Saturday afternoon against MOC Valley Prep Academy.  The Tiger's 100-94 win improved their record to 7-3.  Burroughs led the Tigers with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, 3-of-5 from behind the three-point arc.  Along with his 29 points, Bryant dished out six assists with four rebounds and three steals.

Moc Valley and MMI traded baskets in the first four minutes of the game before the Tigers went on a 14 to 4 run and built a double-digit lead, 24-12.  The visitors from Chattanooga, Tennessee would fight back with a small run before intermission.  After two missed free throws by Marion, Moc Valley connected on a jumper before the buzzer sounded; MMI held a 48-44 lead at halftime.

After a Moc Valley miss to open up the second half, Anthony Bryant was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws to extend the lead to 51-44.  The lead extended back to ten after an Elijah Marsh block led to Bryant being fouled on a drive to the basket; both free throws were made.

Moc Valley would not go away and cut the home team's led to just two points, 67-65, with 12 minutes to play in regulation.  Bryant hit a three pointer on Marion's next possession and Marsh hit a mid-range jumper to bring the lead back to seven points, 72-65. 

A dunk by Tyrone Wright and two free throws by Quandre Burroughs brought the lead back to double digits (81-69) at the 7:35 mark.  Both teams traded baskets the next three minutes which allowed Marion to keep a ten-point advantage; with 4:04 to play in the half, MVP called a timeout.  A reverse layup and a three-pointer by Burroughs gave the Tigers their biggest lead, 94-79 with under three minutes on the clock.

Moc Valley went on a small run and the Tigers turned the ball over on a throw in under the vistor's basket, giving MVP an easy layup.  On their next possession the visitors banked in a deep three-pointer to the cut the lead to two points, 96-94.  With 37.3 seconds remaining in the game, MMI's Eli Elston connected on a mid-range jumper before the shot clock expired to give the Tigers a small cusion, 98-94.  A turnover by Moc Valley on their next possession led them to foul Marion's sophomore point guard Myles McClain.  McClain hit both free throws, solidifying the win.

Elijah Marsh scored 14 points with five assists, five steals and four rebounds.  Eli Elston added 11 points with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.  Roounding out the scoring for MMI was Myles McClain (7), Tyrone Wright (8) and Cameron Spain (1).

MMI will host Tennessee Valley Prep Wednesday, December 14, with a 6:00 p.m. scheduled tip-off.