January 30, 2007

 TIGERS BEAT BUZZER FOR DRAMATIC ONE-POINT VICTORY

BOONEVILLE, Miss.--  Coach David Robbins’ Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to three-straight when Shawndarryl Daniel’s shot from the free throw line hit nothing but net as time expired, giving Northeast the 82-81 win over Columbia State (Tenn.) Monday night, January 29, in Booneville.

Daniel, 6’5” freshman from Batesville (South Panola High School), joined the team in late December. He finished with four points and seven rebounds.

Northeast (4-14, 2-4) trailed by three, 80-77, with :19 seconds remaining when Jeremy Anderson (Memphis, Tenn.) brought the ball across half-court, and drained a three-point basket over two defenders with under ten seconds left, tying the game at 80. With :07 seconds on the clock, Columbia St. hit a free throw to regain the lead 81-80. The second free throw attempt missed and Anderson drove the length of the floor for Northeast. His shot missed, but Daniel pulled down the rebound and lofted a desperation shot from near the free throw line that fell through as the buzzer sounded, giving the Tigers their third consecutive victory.

“We needed this,” said David Robbins. “We needed something good like this to happen. Maybe this can be a spark that will help up down the stretch, because we’ve got a tough road ahead and we need to gain confidence from this win.”

Jeremy Anderson led Northeast with 18 points. Three other Tigers were in double figures including, Derion Taylor (Childersburg, Ala.) with 14, Terry King (Corinth) with 13, and Brad Pressley with ten.

Northeast returns to MACJC North Division play when it travels to face Itawamba Community College on Thursday night, February 1. Tip-off between the Tigers and Indians is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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