UTICA – For the first time since 2012, the Hinds Community College Bulldogs' basketball program will be playing in the postseason. The Bulldogs defeated the East Central Community College (ECCC) Warriors 73-68 Monday evening (Feb. 17) to solidify their spot in the MACJC State Tournament next week.
 
First Half
The Bulldogs and Warriors traded leads multiple times throughout the first half. Hinds jumped out to an 8-6 lead, five minutes into the game, before ECCC went on a 14-4 run to take a 20-12 lead with 9:36 remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs would respond with a run of their own and tied the game at 34-34 to close out the first half.
 
Second Half
In the first five minutes of the second half, Hinds went on a 16-6 scoring run to take a 50-40 lead. ECCC then responded with another run of their own, which cut Hinds lead to just five points (56-51) with under ten minutes remaining. The Bulldogs answered right back and took a 67-59 lead with just under five minutes remaining.
The Warriors made their final push at Hinds and brought their deficit to just one point (69-68) with under a minute left in regulation. That would be all they would get, however, as the Hinds defense held strong and secured the 73-68 victory for the Bulldogs.
With the win, the Bulldogs improved their overall season record to 13-7 and their conference record to 8-5. Their 13 wins are the most regular season wins that Hinds has had since 2013 when they had 15 overall wins. Their eight regular season conference wins are the most in over a decade.
 
Hinds Top Performers vs. ECCC
Ladarius Marshall: 21 points | 13 rebounds | 4 blocks | 1 steal | 1 assist
Jordan Johnson: 14 points | 5 assists | 4 rebounds | 2 steals
Kejuan Clements: 10 points | 2 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal
Eric Stimage: 10 points | 4 rebounds
 
 
Next Game
Hinds (13-7, 8-5) will conclude the regular season this Thursday (Feb. 20) on the road against the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) Bulldogs (14-7, 6-7). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Perkinston. 
If Hinds can defeat MGCCC this Thursday, they will secure second place in the MACJC South Division.
 
MACJC State Tournament
The MACJC State Tournament will begin on Monday, February 24 and conclude with the Championship games on Thursday, February 27. The tournament will be hosted by East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, MS.
The tournament will include the top four teams from the MACJC North and South Divisions.
The tournament is single elimination. First round games on Monday, February 24^th will match number one teams vs. number four teams and number two teams vs. number three teams from opposite divisions.
A full schedule of the MACJC State Tournament will likely be released this Friday, February 21.
 
Head Coach Yusef Fitzgerald's comments on the game vs. ECCC
"Every time we play a conference game you know it is going to be a battle. I thought East Central came to play tonight, but our guys stepped up and came out with a big win."
 
Coach Fitzgerald's Comments on making the playoffs for the first time since 2012
"This is huge for our program. Making the playoffs is a testament to all of the hard work that everyone involved in our program has put in including but not limited to: our players, coaching staff, trainers, managers, instructors, and administrators."