Bulldogs defeat the Rangers, 90-84, in two OTs

SENATOBIA --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs and the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers battled for here Thursday night to two overtimes before the Bulldogs pulled out the 90-84 win.

Holmes has won six straight North Division contests and finished the season sweep of Northwest. The Bulldogs improve to 7-2 overall and 7-2 in the MACCC North Division.

Holmes led 32-29 at halftime before Northwest took the second half, 34-31, to tie the game at 63 at the end of regulation. Each team scored 12 points in the first OT while the Bulldogs outscored the Rangers, 15-9, in the second OT to pull out the win.

A Brandon Weatherspoon dunk gave the Bulldogs a 63-60 lead with one minute to play in regulation before the Rangers answered with a three-pointer with 37 seconds left to tie the game at 63 forcing the first overtime.

Jordan Brister hit a three-pointer early in the first OT to give the Bulldogs a 66-63 lead. A Weatherspoon bucket increased the lead to 68-64 with 2:48 left in the first OT before Brister hit a shot to make it 70-64. Northwest tied the game at 70 before Olanrewaju Olayinka put the Bulldogs back up 72-70 with 1:02 left in the first OT. Darrius Clark's free throw made it 73-70 with 34 seconds to go in OT. Weatherspoon hit a free throw with 15 second left to put Holmes up 75-72 before Northwest hit a three-pointer with one second left to tie the game at 75 forcing the second overtime.

Kaleb Higgins put the Bulldogs up 77-75 on the first bucket of the second overtime. Northwest took a 78-77 lead with 4:03 left before Olayinka tied the game at 78 with 3:42 left on a free throw. Higgins nailed two consecutive three-pointers to put the Bulldogs up 84-78 with 1:21 left in the second OT. Olayinka hit two FTs with 27 seconds left to put Holmes up 86-81. Higgins hit two FTs with 12 seconds to go to make it 88-82 before Weatherspoon capped the scoring at 90-84 after hitting two FTs with two seconds left in the game.

Higgins finished the game with 30 points including four three-pointers while Weatherspoon had 26 points on two-three pointers and eight FTs.  Olayinka had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

The Bulldogs shot 42.9 percent from the floor (30-of-70) and 79.3 percent from the free throw line (23-of-29).