Bulldogs hold halftime lead over Lions but fall 81-63

SCOOBA --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs battled back from a 17-point deficit in the first half to hold a four-point halftime lead. But it wasn't enough as East Mississippi went on to win 81-63 here Thursday night.

Win the loss, the Bulldogs went to 12-6 overall and 4-3 in the North Division. The Bulldogs have two home games next week versus Northeast on Monday and Coahoma on Thursday. Both games can be watched live at holmesathletics.ihigh.com.

The Lions jumped out early in the game and led by 17 points with 13 minutes to play on a basket by D.J. Evans. The Bulldogs pulled back within 10 points with 9:47 to play when Demarcus Lewis made one of two free throws. East Mississippi led by 13 with 7:40 to play in the first half before the Bulldogs started their run back. Torrance Rowe hit back-to-back three pointers with less than six minutes to cut East's lead to 27-22.

With 4:06 to play in the first, Rowe hit two free throws to tie the game at 29. The Bulldogs got their first lead with 3:39 to play in the half when Rowe hit one of two free throws. East then retook the lead at 21-20 with 2:20 to play on two free throws by Dione Milsap. The teams swapped baskets the remaining minutes of the half before Rowe nailed another three pointer with six seconds left in the half to give the Bulldogs the 37-33 lead.

East Mississippi took the second half lead with 16 minutes to play and never trailed again. The Lions jumped out to a 13-point lead with seven minutes to play, and the Bulldogs got to within 10 at 66-56 after Daveon Slaughter hit two free throws. That was as close as the game would get after that point.

Rowe led the Bulldogs with 22 points while DeAndre Scott followed with 17. Deangelo Priar led the Bulldogs with 11 rebounds.