CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College (10-15, 7-12 Gulf South) fell to Valdosta State (16-8, 11-7 Gulf South) 89-80 on Saturday night at A.E. Wood Coliseum. The game was particularly significant as it marked senior day, adding an emotional layer for the home team. The Choctaws scored 44 points in the paint, but Valdosta State outpaced them with 10 three-pointers and 15 fast-break points.
The opening half featured a back-and-forth contest between Mississippi College and Valdosta State. MC struck first with
Josh Holman scoring a layup at 18:56, followed by a 3-pointer to give the home team an early edge. However, Valdosta State's Drew Mills and Maalik Leitch responded with key baskets, keeping the score tight. Blaise Wallace's effective shooting, including two consecutive 3-pointers at the 10:36 mark, helped Valdosta State gain momentum. The Choctaws managed to keep pace with contributions from
Avaughn Johnson, but Valdosta State's Lucas Brown closed the half strong, helping his team secure a 48-40 lead at the break.
Valdosta State edged The Blue and Gold in a tightly contested second half, securing a narrow 89-80 victory.
DeMarcus Powe kept MC close with several key 3-pointers, including one at the 14:37 mark to cut the deficit to five. Valdosta State maintained its lead with strong performances from Drew Mills, who added crucial free throws and layups throughout the half. Peter McKey's 3-pointer with 6:50 remaining extended Valdosta State's advantage, and Lucas Brown sealed the win with a late 3-pointer, pushing the lead to eight in the final minute.
Mississippi Col. Top Performers Â
Josh Holman Â
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- 17 points Â
- 8 field goals made Â
- 5 rebounds Â
DeMarcus Powe Â
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- 21 points Â
- 5/9 three-pointers made Â
- 2 assists Â
Avaughn Johnson Â
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- 18 points Â
- 15 rebounds Â
- 5/5 free throws made Â
Phil Nelson Â
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- 14 points Â
- 7 assists Â
- 3 steals Â
Looking ahead, MC will face Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. as The Blue and Gold take on the role of the visiting team.
