Hinds Bulldogs take down Co-Lin Wolves 69-66

The Hinds Community College Bulldogs held off the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves Thursday evening, Feb. 13, to secure a 69-66 win on sophomore night.

Before the game, the Hinds Bulldog basketball program honored their sophomores: Dontrell McQuarter of Baton Rouge, La., Jerrez Porter of Jackson, Miss., Peyton Taylor of Cleveland, Miss., Dontavious Smith of Terry, Miss., Eric Stimage of Utica, Miss., Ladarius Marshall of Jackson and Deonte Spencer of Jackson.

The Bulldogs came out firing and jumped out to a 12-3 lead just five minutes into the game.

The Wolves responded with a run of their own and tied the game at 15-15 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bulldogs and the Wolves then traded leads until Hinds pushed it to a two-possession game (30-25) with five minutes left in the half.

Hinds then expanded on their lead and pushed the score to 39-33 at the half.

In the second half, Hinds took a nine-point lead (46-37) with 15 minutes remaining.

CLCC, however, clawed their way back into the game and cut the Bulldog lead to just one point (67-66) with less than nine seconds remaining.

With seven seconds left in regulation play, CLCC fouled Hinds’ sophomore forward Deonte Spencer who made both free throw attempts, sealing the 69-66 victory for the Bulldogs.

“Co-Lin is a well-coached, tough team to play against. They beat us earlier in the season by one point, but tonight our guys were able to make some shots at the end of the game and hold them off to get the win,” said head coach Yusef Fitzgerald.

“Tonight, we won the close game, and good teams win close games,” Fitzgerald added. Prior to tonight’s game, four of Hinds’ losses had come by five points or less.

With the win, Hinds improves to 12-7 overall and 7-5 in the MACJC South Division. Their 7-5 divisional record puts them in a three-way tie for second place with two games remaining in the regular season.

“One guy I’d like to commend is Deonte Spencer,” Fitzgerald said. “He has worked extremely hard and bought into what we have been trying to teach him. He was huge for us off of the bench tonight.”

Hinds (12-7, 7-5) will be back in action Monday, Feb. 17, at home in Utica for a crucial MACJC South Division matchup against the East Central Community College Warriors (9-12, 4-8). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Before the start of the game, Hinds will name the basketball court inside J.D. Boyd Gymnasium on the Utica Campus after former basketball coach Earl Joe Nelson. The dedication ceremony will take place on Monday at approximately 7 p.m.

Hinds Top Performers vs. Co-Lin

Dontrell McQuarter: 18 points | 4 assists | 1 block | 1 steal
Jordan Johnson: 12 points | 5 assists
Deonte Spencer: 9 points | 3 rebounds