Seahawks beat No. 1 Missouri State-West Plains to advance in NJCAA tournament

[LamarStatesports]

Lamar State College-Port Arthur head Coach Matt Cross has been saying all season that his basketball team has a lot of heart and determination.

The Seahawks certainly proved it Thursday at the NJCAA Division I Tournament, when they rebounded from their 70-52 first-round loss to No. 19 Monroe College with an impressive 69-62 victory No. 1 Missouri State University-West Plains.

MSU-WP was upset by No. 6 Coffeyville (KS) Community College, 77-66, in the first round.

Lamar State pulled away early and led by 15 points, 18-3, at the midway point of the first half on 50 percent shooting from the field.

A defensive letdown allowed Missouri State to put up a 15-4 run with three-point shots from the corners that tightened the score to 22-18 with five minutes left in the half.
The Seahawks finally regained their composure and went on a 12-4 run to lead by 10 at the break, 34-24.

Lamar State came out cold in the second half and turned the ball over several times in the first three minutes to allow Missouri State to take the lead, 36-35.

The Grizzlies led by eight points, 53-45, with 8:40 left, before the Seahawks started focusing their efforts on both ends of the floor.

Reserve forward Darrion Booker got a put-back basket to tie the game 58-58 at the 3:14 mark.

The Seahawks took control at that point and pulled away for their 26th win of the season.

LSC-PA sophomore guard Vonn Jones, who scored only seven points Tuesday, led all scorers with 19 points.

Booker had a big game in the post with nine rebounds and 17 points, including nine free throws.

Keenen Coleman hit for 10 points, and Roman Vaughn, who had the flu and was a non-factor Tuesday, added nine for the Seahawks.

Twann Oakley led MSU with 17 points, including five treys.

The win was the fifth against a nationally-ranked team this year for the Seahawks, who previously defeated No. 4. San Jacinto College, No. 9 Trinity Valley Community College, No. 21 Shelton State  Community College and No. 34 Jacksonville College.

Lamar State will play at 1 p.m. Friday against Cape Fear (NC) Community College, which came into the tournament unranked with a 24-7 record.

The Sea Devils lost to Tallahassee (FL) Community College, 64-61, in the opening round and eliminated Redlands (OK) Community College on Thursday, 93-83.

[WOSgrad]

Sweeet! Way to go, Seahawks!!!

[KFDM COOP]

Congrats!

[samsung]

Congrats Seahawks!

[minilee]

Way to go, Seahawks!!!