Cardiac kids do it again, win last-second thriller over MS Delta
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
MOORHEAD, MS – For the second time this season, Johnthan McGee (Jackson) hit a game-winning shot for the Indians. This time the sophomore drilled a three as time expired to give ICC a 75-72 road victory over Mississippi Delta Community College.
"Mississippi Delta is a tough place to play," said Coach Grant Pate. "They make you work extremely hard in all aspects of the game for the entire game and the fans are basically on the floor all night trying to get in your head. I was proud of how our guys responded to the challenge of winning a game like this on the road and hopefully it's something we can continue to build on for the future."
With the game tied 72-72, Mississippi Delta (7-9, 1-4 MACJC North) worked for the final shot when Kevis Fleming (Robinsonville) poked the ball away allowing Tory Rice (Starkville) to grab the loose ball with 13.2 left in the game.
After an ICC timeout, Alex Anderson (Memphis, TN) drove the lane to set McGee up for his last-second heroics in front of the stunned Mississippi Delta student section.
"I was proud of the total team effort and the focus we played with in that situation," Pate said. "Everyone did their part for us to be able to have the opportunity to win the game the way we. We were blessed to get the outcome we did, but it all started with this group of guys believing in each other and playing as one."
The Indians improved to 11-5 on the season and remain in first place with a 6-0 MACJC North Division record.
Tyrone Wooten (Memphis, TN) led the Indians with 20 points while McGee totaled 17 and Anderson finished the night with 10 points and 6 assists. Rice recorded his sixth double-double performance of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
James Evans paced the Trojans with 23 points in the loss.
Nail-biting season for the Indians
The Indians are no stranger to dramatic endings this season.
Thursday's night last-second victory was the fifth game that has been determined on the final play of the game with four of those resulting in wins for the Indians.
"We are blessed to have a group of guys that have an unbelievable will to find ways to win," commented Pate. "The guys have really bought into each other this season and trust each other to know no matter who is on the floor or who takes the final shot that they've got each other's back no matter the outcome."
Along with the last-second photo finishes the Indians also have a pair of overtime wins, including a double overtime victory over East Mississippi Community College on Tuesday.
"I was proud of how the guys handled themselves after coming off such a hard-fought and emotional win over an outstanding East Mississippi team earlier in the week," said Pate. "They did a great job building on the win and hopefully we can continue to grow and mature as we push towards the end of the season."
ICC will step out of division play as they travel to Poplar Bluff, Missouri to face Three Rivers Community College on Monday before returning to the Davis Event Center to take on the rivals from Northeast Mississippi Community College on Thursday.
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