January 23, 2007

TIGERS def. EMCC FOR SIXTH WIN IN SEVEN GAMES

by: Gene Phelps
NE Miss Daily Journal

BOONEVILLE, Miss.-- Sophomore guard Travis Lee overcame a sluggish first half to score 21 points, 17 in the second half, and lead the Tigers to a 81-63 win over East Mississippi.

Lee on target
Lee connected on two of three 3-pointers early in the second half to lead Northeast to a game-busting 51-40 lead. The Tigers trailed the Lions, 34-32, at halftime.

"I had to calm down," Lee said, referring to his first-half shooting struggles. "We got focused and got minds right. This was a division game on our home floor."

Northeast, which improved to 11-6 overall and to 4-1 in the division, has won seven of its last eight games.

East Mississippi's record fell to 8-9 and 2-2 in the North.

Northeast sophomore William Burdette led all scorers with 23 points. Britton Smith's 17 points was tops for the Lions.

The Tigers, who lead the nation in 3-point shooting, were just 4-of-14 from the deep perimeter, including 0-of-6 in the first half.

East Mississippi played without starting sophomore guard Jarvis Hill, who was suspended earlier in the day for disciplinary reasons. Hill, a former Daily Journal Player of the Year from Starkville, started for Southern Mississippi last season before transferring to Scooba.

"We're a lot better team with him," losing coach Mark White said. "He's averaging 15 points a game and he's our best defender. We weren't prepared for this." 

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