Marion, AL. – The MMI men's basketball team fought back from a double digit deficit last night against the Eagles of Coastal Alabama CC-North but the comeback fell short as the Tigers took a 71-74 loss.  The loss dropped Marion's record to 10-9 overall, 5-7 in ACCC play. 

The Eagles started out the game on an 8-0 run before sophomore point guard Myles McClain hit a three-pointer at 16:47 mark to put MMI on the scoreboard.  Coa-North took their first double digit lead with over 12 minutes to play in the first half and held a 28-38 lead at intermission.

The first two and a half minutes of the second half saw both teams trade baskets with the Eagles maintaining their double-digit lead.  The Tigers made a small run when Quandre Burroughs scored from behind the three-point arc to cut their deficit to just six points, 42-48.  Coastal-North called a quick timeout to stop MMI's momentum.  The Eagles went on a run and built their lead back to fifteen, 52-67, with 4:03 on the clock.

A Myles McClain layup and a three-pointer from Burroughs quickly cut the lead back to ten points; 2:21 to play in regulation.  After a basket by Coastal-North, McClain hit a three and Anthony Bryant stole the ball and scored on a layup; Marion down seven.

With MMI trailing 62-71 with a little over a minute to play in the game, Eli Elston drove to the basket and scored; he was followed by Bryant and the Tigers cut the lead to  five points, 66-71 with 56.6 seconds to play.  After a Coa-North timeout, MMI took a charge and McClain put back an offensive rebound; Tigers down 68-71 with 35.7 seconds on the clock.  An Eagle turnover gave Marion the ball but a missed three-pointer allowed Coastal-North to secure the rebound and caused the Tigers to foul.  After an Eagle miss from the charity stripe MMI was unable to secure the rebound and once again had to foul an Eagle player on the ensuing inbounds pass.  Coastal-North connected on one of two free throws and Burroughs buried a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds on the clock; MMI down 71-72.  Marion quickly fouled but this time the Eagles hit both attempts.  With just 0.7 seconds to play in regulation.  Bryant received the inbounds pass but couldn't hit from beyond the half court line and push the game into overtime.

Quandre Burroughs led MMI with 25 points.  Myles McClain scored 16 points and Anthony Bryant added 10 points.  Also scoring for the Tigers was Eli Elston (9), Elijah Marsh (5), Tyrone Wright (4), and Marselis Jones (2).

Lawson State CC comes to the Ireland Athletic Center this Friday, February 3, for an ACCC North-South match-up.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.