Tigers Defeat LBW at Home; Improve to 4-3 in ACCC

Marion, AL. – The MMI men's basketball team improved their conference record to 4-3 after defeating the Saints of Lurleen B. Wallace CC yesterday evening by a score of 81-71; the Tigers held a 46-30 lead at halftime.

The home squad never trailed in the game as freshman Katayvon Jefferies started the game with a steal on the defensive end and a layup.  Marion extended the lead to 5-0 before the Saints got on the scoreboard. Marion's first double digit lead occurred at the 13:39 mark when Darrin Thompson Jr scored on a layup. LBW tried to keep the game close in the first half but after bringing the score back to within ten points with under eleven minutes to play in the first period, MMI went on a run and finished the half with a 46-30 lead at intermission.

After a missed shot in Marion's first possession to start the second half, a steal by Raylan Barrion led to a layup and an early 18-point lead. The Tigers extended the lead to twenty-one, 57-36, before LBW went on a run to cut back the lead to eleven with a little over ten minutes to play in regulation. With under three minutes on the scoreboard, MMI held a 76-66 lead and the visitors from Andalusia could not draw any closer as the Tigers used the clock to their advantage, securing their fourth win in ACCC play.

Jaquavious Wallace, Katayvon Jefferies and Raylan Barrion each scored 18 points for Marion. Barrion had a team high eight assists and Jefferies led the Tigers with six steals. Darrin Thompson Jr added 17 points. Jacob Cooper grabbed a team high 11 rebounds with five points. Kamari Slaughter added 10 rebounds and three points; Malik Owens added two points in the win.

Marion will host Reid State Technical College Monday, January 20, for another ACCC match-up. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the William R. Ireland Athletic Center.