Men post 14 point comeback; beat Mississippi for first time

Down 48-34 just three minutes into the second half on Saturday at Mississippi College, coach Kenny Bizot called a timeout.

He challenged his team, especially his seniors, to step up and told them that it is now or never.

“We cut it to four by half, then we let them go back up 14 and I had to call the timeout,” Bizot said. “I reminded the guys in the huddle that we had to have this win if we wanted to go to the playoffs. I challenged the senior’s to step up or otherwise their season and careers would end today.”

Message received.

Over the next 17 minutes, the Patriots, along with its three seniors, responded with a 50-25 run to pull off the come-from-behind victory at 84-73. The win not only gave the Patriots the fourth and final playoff berth in the division, but it was the program’s first ever win in 12 tries against Mississippi College.

Patriots backup point guard Travan Porchia looks to pass the ball around a Louisiana College defender during the men’s 82-62 win Thursday night at H.O. West Fieldhouse in Pineville, La. Porchia finished with four points in 12 minutes of play. Photo by Kyle G. Horst

Other players in double figures for the Patriots were Hakeem Kareem with 14 points and nine rebounds, senior Larry Ware with 13 points and six assists and senior Marlon Hill with 10 points.

The Patriots finished the season with a losing overall record of 12-13 but all 12 wins came in conference play, going 12-8 to finish in fourth place.

Thursday’s game at Louisiana College turned out to be just as important of a win as Saturday’s game.

The Patriots started off with a three-pointer from Johnson to take a 3-0 lead and never looked back from there.

Eventually, the Patriots extended that lead to 24-6 and by halftime, they were up 48-25.

The biggest lead the Patriots had all night came with 4:42 remaining in the game when Louis Harris made a layup to put the men up 79-49.

Every player on the Patriots team got a chance to play Thursday night and every player scored at least one point.

Reese led all scorers with 22 while Johnson followed with 11 and Dexter McMarion with 10.

“It was good to get everyone into the game tonight,” Bizot said. “Some of those players needed the playing time because they are the future of this basketball team.” Had the Patriots lost on Thursday or Saturday, they would not be in the playoffs.

East Texas Baptist University finished fifth in the standings, one game behind the Patriots. ETBU had the tiebreaker between the two.

Instead, the Patriots now advance to the ASC Tournament, which is slated to start Friday on the campus of The University of Texas at Dallas.

The Patriots play in the first game of the tournament at Noon on Friday against the ASC West Division Champions, McMurry University.

Earlier in the season, McMurry came to town and the Patriots defeated them 66-62. Since that loss, McMurry is 15-2.

“I think we have a little advantage on McMurry because we did beat them,” Bizot said. “We are very confident that we can beat them and I feel very good about our chances. This team deserves to be in the tournament and I am so proud of them.”

If the Patriots beat McMurry, they play the winner of the Concordia University-Mississippi College game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

By Jeremy Cotham Sports Editor