MEN’S BASKETBALL: Late comeback too short for Seahawks
Published 11:30 pm Monday, February 19, 2018
Lamar State sports information
Lamar State College Port Arthur continues to look for an answer to being almost good enough, frustrated by another close loss after Jacksonville College got away with a 78-75 decision at the Carl Parker Center on Monday night.
The Seahawks have lost seven conference games by five or fewer points this season, including their three-point loss to Jacksonville. The Jags lead the NJCAA Region 14 South zone with a 10-7 mark. The Hawks’ loss drops them to 4-13 in league play.
The Seahawks have proven they can play ball with the best in the league and Monday was no different. LSCPA led by as many as 10 points early in the second half with freshman Devin Ellis taking control for 15 points and eight rebounds.
But in a flash, Jacksonville College came alive, outscoring LSCPA 15-2 over a three-minute run that left the Seahawks reeling. The Hawks went up 44-34 with 18:36 left in the game but over the span of the next three minutes, a jump shot by Nathan Payne represented the only offense LSCPA could muster.
The Jaguars continued their push, eventually taking a 10-point lead of their own, up 67-57 with 6:53 left in the contest.
LSCPA’s Rodney Brown, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, made the game his own late but couldn’t outlast the officials, fouling out with just over two minutes remaining.
In spite of losing Brown, the Hawks still managed to cut the Jaguars from seven points at 77-70 to three points, 78-75 with three seconds left in the game.
Ellis went to the free throw line, missing the first, but then intentionally sending his second shot off the front of the rim. The rebound was corralled by Ethan White who got a shot off at the buzzer. The ball went right and with it, the Hawks’ hopes of sending the game into overtime.
White finished the game with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Tra Grubbs added 10 points and four assists for the Hawks.
Christian Barrett scored 20 points for the Jags, adding 15 rebounds.
LSCPA hits the road for a conference showdown with Blinn College on Wednesday. Tipoff for that game in Brenham is at 7 p.m.
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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