The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves out-shot the Meridian Eagles Monday night on their way to a 66-57 victory.

The Wolves led early, as Co-Lin seemed to score at will from inside the paint. The hot start gave the Wolves a 13-2 lead with 14:31 remaining in the opening half. The Eagles quickly responded, and a three-pointer by Meridian’s Alex Perry sparked a 10-0 run that cut the Wolves lead to just one, 13-12.

The momentum again swung in Co-Lin’s favor as the Wolves rattled off a 22-2 run. The Wolves’ lock-down defense prevented the Eagles from scoring for more than seven minutes. Co-Lin took a 19-point, 35-16, lead into halftime.

The Wolves held the Eagles at bay for the majority of the second, but some desperation threes late in the game gave Meridian a glimpse of hope. The momentum swung into the Wolves’ favor late when Tray Lawson found Youry White for a huge alley-oop with just 2:19 left in the game. Meridian chipped the Wolves’ lead down to nine, but it was too little, too late, as Co-Lin escaped with the division victory.

Floyd, a sophomore from Gulfport, led the Wolves with 21 points on the night. The Harrison Central graduate also led the Wolves in rebounds with eight. Damarius Brooks posted 13 points on the night and led Co-Lin with three assists. Anthony Jones rounded out Co-Lin’s top scorers, posting nine points. Mike McWilliams led Co-Lin with four blocks.

Darrius Wilson led Meridian with 15 points, while Perry scored 12. Vernell Garner led the Eagles with 10 rebounds.

Co-Lin shot 46 percent (23-for-50) from the field, 36 percent (4-for-11) from the three-point line and 70 percent (16-for-23) from the foul stripe. The Eagles finished the night shooting 33 percent (21-for-63) from the field, 30 percent (8-for-27) from beyond the arc and 58 percent (7-for-12) from the free throw line.

The win moves the Wolves to 19-3 on the year and 10-3 in the MACJC South Division. Co-Lin faces Pearl River Community College Thursday in Mullen Gymnasium in the biggest contest of the season. The game will decide the champion of the MACJC South Division.

The game starts at 8 p.m. and fans are asked to wear white to the game.