Holmes falls in overtime to Gulf Coast, 61-56 in OT; await word on Region XXIII

FULTON --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs held an 11-point lead early in the second half but failed to score for eight minutes to allow Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to tie the game at the end of regulation and win the game in overtime, 61-56.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 17-8 overall. Holmes knows they are in the Region XXIII Tournament on Thursday at Mississippi College but do not know who they play.

Holmes jumped out early in the game and controlled the tempo the entire first half. Holmes held a seven-point lead with 13:15 to play on a two-point bucket from DeAndre Scott. The lead remaiend around seven until Rowe hit two free throws with 4:45 to play to give Holmes the nine-point lead at 32-23. Gulf Coast pulled to within four at 34-30 when Angel Matias completed a three-point play with 2:25 to play. Holmes led 37-31 at halftime.

In the second half, Holmes moved the lead out to 11 when Daveon Slaughter hit one of two free throws making the score 48-37 with 14:13 to play. Holmes then failed to score from that point until the six minute mark of the game. During that stretch, Gulf Coast pulled to within three points as 48-45 after Guy Payne hit four of four free throws.

A bucket by Payne with 2:15 to go tied the game at 51. Darius Forrest gave Gulf Coast the 53-51 lead with 1:30 to play before Torrance Rowe hit a three-pointer to put Holmes up by one. Payne then hit a free throw with 3.4 seconds to tie the game at 54. Rowe's heave from halfcourt at the buzzer almost went in.

Gulf Coast outscored Holmes 7-2 in overtime to preserve the win. Justin Childs scored five of the points while Matias hit two free throws with five seconds to play. Kenitric Gillum made two free throws in overtime.

Torrance Rowe led Holmes with 14 points while Deangelo Priar had 11 and DeAndre Scott had 10. Rowe led in rebounds with eight while Priar and Scott each had six.