Battle of the Bulldogs in the Region XXIII semifinals

GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs will play the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Region XXIII Tournament at 5 p.m. Thursday at Mississippi College.

Holmes defeated MACJC champion East Mississippi, 72-64, in the quarterfinals while Gulf Coast defeated Southern University-Shreveport, 78-60, in the opening game of the day. Thursday's game can be watched live at holmesathletics.com/cardinal-channel.

Holmes and Gulf Coast haven't played this season. Holmes comes into the semifinals with a 16-9 record while Gulf Coast is 20-5.

Holmes is led in scoring by sophomore guard/forward Kassim Nicholson, who is averaging 15.1 points per game. Sophomore guard Czar Perry is averaging 14.8 points per game and sophomore forward Winford Ross is averaging 9.8 points per game. As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging 73 points per game and are shooting 45.3 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from three-point range and 69.1 percent from the free-throw line.

Holmes is giving up 67.52 points per game.

Gulf Coast is led by sophomore forward DeJuan Moorer, who is averaging 11.6 points per game. Sophomore guard Keevon Oney is averaging 11.2 points per game while sophomore guard LaRaymond Spivery is averaging 10.9 per game. As a team, Gulf Coast is averaging 74.9 points per game and are shooting 46.6 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from the three-point line and 65.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Gulf Coast is giving up 64.04 points per game.