Northeast enters conference play as last national team unbeaten
Photo: Northeast Mississippi Community College sophomore guard Tyler Byrd (2) of Memphis goes up for a first-half dunk attempt during a game against Itawamba on Dec. 5. (Michael H. Miller/Northeast Public Information)
Jan 9, 2025-The Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s basketball program is in a league of its own as conference play gets underway.
The Tigers are the last unbeaten team among National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I members. Northeast claimed that honor after New Mexico Junior College fell to South Plains (Texas) College earlier this week.
Northeast completed the non-conference portion of its 2024-25 schedule with an unblemished 16-0 record. The Tigers appear at No. 25 in the latest media poll and are receiving votes in the NJCAA Division I rankings.
“That’s a great accomplishment. I credit our guys for getting out there and taking care of business,” said Northeast head coach Cord Wright. “I’m pleased with the pace that we’re playing. I hope that our depth continues to allow us to overcome mistakes.”
The Tigers have an average margin of victory of 33 points. Northeast has scored 100-plus points in a single game six times, which is already its most since the special 1999-2000 campaign that ended with a trip to the national tournament.
Northeast is 11th in the country and tops in the Magnolia State with 95.8 points per contest. The Tigers accumulated a season-best 126 points in a pre-Thanksgiving win over Baton Rouge (La.) Post Graduate Academy.
Only two players for Northeast average double figures, but five more produce greater than eight points. Among that group are newcomers Stephon Thomas at 9.8 points and Ru Mills with 9.6 points.
Tyler Byrd has picked up where he left off from his NJCAA All-American freshman campaign. He leads the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding with 17.4 and 5.3, respectively.
Javion Stephen adds 11.3 points and a team-high 95.7 free throw percentage. Northeast is seventh nationally in assists with Landon Jeffries guiding that effort at right at four per outing.
The Tigers are also among the top 25 programs in NJCAA Division I in the statistical categories of field goals made, offensive rebounds, total rebounds, opponents’ turnovers, steals, points allowed and opponents’ field goal percentage.
Northeast begins its Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) slate on Monday, Jan. 13 at East Central Community College. The first home game of the spring semester is three days later versus Hinds Community College.
