Hinds Men’s Basketball Wins First-Round Game in NJCAA Region 23 Tournament

GOODMAN, Miss. — The Hinds Community College men’s basketball team defeated Holmes 67-58 in the first round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament Thursday night at Frank Branch Coliseum. The victory sends the Eagles to the quarterfinals, where they will face Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Perkinston.

The game was tightly contested, with the first half ending in a 31-31 tie. Holmes stayed within striking distance early in the second half, but Hinds used strong defense and timely scoring to pull ahead and secure the nine-point win.

Daveon Henry led all scorers with 19 points and shot 50% from the floor. Freshman Terrance Clark added 16 points, while Abubakar Cham scored 10. Austin Ratliff grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and scored six points. Hinds shot 33.3% from the field, making six three-pointers and converting 16 of 27 free throws. The Eagles also dominated the glass with 39 rebounds and capitalized at the free throw line to maintain their lead late in the game.

Holmes shot 40% from the field and stayed competitive throughout. However, Hinds held advantages in bench scoring, 23-5, and points in the paint, 34-22. The Eagles’ strong defense and inside presence helped secure the victory.

Hinds will travel to Perkinston on Saturday to face Mississippi Gulf Coast in the quarterfinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. for the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament matchup.

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