FULTON – Anthony Brock scored a game-high 36 points to lead theNo. 5 ranked Itawamba Community College Indians to their firststate championship in over 40 years defeating the Copiah-LincolnCommunity College Wolves 79-74 last night in the MississippiAssociation of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) StateBasketball Tournament. It was the second consecutive year that theWolves were defeated in the state tournament championship finals.Last year, the Wolves lost a heartbreaker to the Holmes Bulldogs71-68 in overtime.

Both teams will play in the National Junior College AthleticAssociation (NJCAA) Region 23 Basketball Tournament, which beginsMonday at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi Collegein Clinton.

In women’s action, the Itawamba Lady Indians defeated theMeridian Community College Lady Eagles 77-67 to capture its firstchampionship since 1975.

Co-Lin (20-7) trailed by as many as 16 points in the secondhalf, but rallied to tie the game at 67-all with 3:40 left in thegame on a Trent Hutchin 3-pointer. Itawamba’s Sergio Kersuch hit abasket and was fouled with 3:13 left in the game to put the Indiansup 70-67. After the teams traded baskets, Co-Lin sophomore CoreyLondon hit a basket and was fouled. London hit the free throw andthe Wolves pulled within 2 at 74-72 with 58.5 secondsremaining.

But Brock went 3 for 4 from the free throw line in the last 15seconds and Theron Jenkins hit 2 more free throws with 5.8 secondsleft to secure the win for the Indians. Brock, a 5-9 sophomore fromLittle Rock, went 10-11 from the free throw line for the game.

After falling behind 4-0 early in the, the Wolves fought backand took a 13-6 lead at the 14:26 mark in the first half. TheIndians came back to tie the game at 24-all with 7:48 left in thehalf. Co-Lin’s Greg Truvillion 1 of 2 free throws at the 1:41 markto give the Wolves a 35-34 lead. Two quick baskets by Itawamba’sTheron Jenkins and Brooks gave the Indians a 38-35 lead at thehalf.

Truvillion led the way for the Wolves with 24 points, 8rebounds, and 6 assists. Hutchin, who scored only 2 points in thefirst half, poured in 16 second-half points including 4 treys.London fired in 12 points and sophomore Julius Blanks chipped in 11points.

Kerusch finished with 16 points and led the Indians on thebackboards with 7 rebounds.