Clarksville, Ark.-No. 24 Mississippi College saw an 11-point lead slip to five points with under a minute to play but held on for a 80-74 win over the Eagles Thursday night in American Southwest Conference play.
The Choctaws (16-3, 12-3 ASC) appeared to have the game under control with 44 seconds left as they held a comfortable 74-63 lead. But Ozarks (7-12, 5-9 ASC) made it a game when Blake Mitchem hit a three-pointer with 39 seconds left and then converted a three-point play with 22 seconds left to cut the deficit to 74-69. Mississippi College hit a pair of free throws to add to their lead, but Ozarks wouldn’t go away. Jessie Raglin scored with 15 seconds left to make it a five-point game. After a pair of Choctaw free throws, Colby Woolverton nailed a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to make it 78-74. The Choctaws would then hit two clutch free throws with 8 seconds left to earn the win.
Ozarks benefitted in the second half from its eight three-pointers, three of which came from Andre Williams, but could never take the lead. Williams paced Ozarks with 16 second half points.
Mitchem scored 23 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Williams ended with 19 points.
Ozarks will travel to Pineville, Louisiana, to face Louisiana College Saturday.
Topics: Athletics