Pictured above-Northeast Tigers shot blocker number Charles Mitchell blocks a shot against the Coahoma Tigers at the Pinnacle Arena in Clarksdale, Miss., on Thursday night January 22, 2009.
PICTURE COURTESY OF TROY CATCHINGS OF COAHOMA

LADY TIGERS CAPTURE FIRST WIN OF 2009; TIGERS FALL AT THE PINNACLE

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- Northeast Mississippi Community College men and women’s basketball teams was in action again on Thursday night, January 22, in Clarksdale, Mississippi where they faced the Coahoma Tigers and Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers went into the match-up needing a win and came away with a 75-62 victory at the Pinnacle. 

Coach Ford's team picked up their second win in the North Division (2-3) and improved to 6-9 overall, while the Tigers of Coahoma fell to (0-4) in the division and 4-12 overall with the loss.

Eboni Crayton led the way for the Lady Tigers. Crayton won the tip-off and went on to score a double-double ending the night with 23 points and 14 rebounds and added three blocked shots on the evening.

"I think we played hard tonight and we are glad for the win, any win is a good win and the girls fought hard. I think Crayton played well on the offensive of side of the ball, she had a few mistakes but overall she played a solid game" said Ford.

On the men's side, the Tigers trailed most of the game and went into the locker room at halftime down by eight points on a score of 40-32. 

Northeast was able to claw their way back into the game at the 16:10 mark in the second half after William Burdette hit a jump shot and got fouled on the play.  Burdette hit the free-throw and gave Northeast the first lead in the game at 45-44.  Burdette finished the game with a double-double scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 rebounds on the evening.

Andre Southern added a game high 18 points but it wasn't enough for the Tigers of Booneville. Coahoma's Maquise Mems had 23 points and 11 rebounds on the night that helped push his team to victory and improved their record to 12-5 overall and 3-2 in the North Division.

With the loss the Northeast Tigers record dropped to 8-9 overall and 1-4 in the division.

The final score of 78-68 was not a reflection of how hard Coach David Robbins' Tigers played.  Northeast shot only 42 percent from the foul line hitting 8-of-19 in the second half, while Coahoma shot 55 percent on 11-of-20 in the second half and was able to seal the game from the charity stripe.

Northeast will be at home where they will face Columbia State on Saturday, January 24, at Bonner Arnold Coliseum.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. for the Lady Tigers and 3 p.m. for the Tigers.

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