Defense provides spark as MAC pulls away

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS — The Mineral Area College men’s basketball team exhibited shades of recent success on Saturday night, using defensive pressure and transition scoring to overwhelm an opponent.

Sophomore guard Gerald Fulton scored a season-high 27 points, and the Cardinals wore down visiting Redlands (Okla.) in a breakout second half for an 84-69 triumph that capped an otherwise mediocre month of November.

Fulton buried six three-pointers overall, including three in a row during a pivotal 21-5 outburst that saw MAC force six turnovers along the perimeter. Jeremy Felton threw down several late dunks to finish with 17 points and eight rebounds, and Carlton Guyton netted 13 points in the victory.

The Cardinals held a narrow 46-45 lead after two of their 21 total turnovers resulted in fast-break baskets by Marvin Roberts and Antoine Watson, who carried a bulk of the scoring burden throughout the night for the Cougars.

But Redlands (5-4) would also struggle to protect the basketball while failing several times to retreat quickly enough on defense. Fulton swished a wide-open triple after Brandon Hall stripped the ball near midcourt, then connected again from the left wing on an inbounds play.

Guyton and Mike Stovall each finished on outlet passes from point guard Sean Scott, propelling MAC to its largest margin of 73-53 with 4:39 left.

Hall provided a needed spark off the bench with four steals, and Byron Pickens corralled nine rebounds for Mineral Area (7-4), which had seen its previous two contests at home decided by one point.

A conventional three-point play from Watson with 1:52 remaining trimmed the difference to 75-67 as Redlands responded to a technical foul with an aggressive 14-2 run. Watson finished with 18 points.

Roberts was nearly unstoppable at times for the Cougars, erupting for a game-high 35 points while converting 13-of-15 attempts from the line. Redlands was just 3-for-19 overall from beyond the arc.

Mineral Area built an early eight-point cushion and carried a 33-30 edge at the break despite shooting one free throw in the first half. The Cardinals will travel to Memphis on Wednesday for a clash against SW Tennessee.

Redlands  30  39 - 69

Mineral Area  33  51 - 84

SCORING:

Redlands - Roberts 35, Watson 18, Rolland 6, Mobley 4, Hays 3, Cunningham 2. 3-point FG - Roberts 3.

Mineral Area - Fulton 27, Felton 17, Guyton 13, Stovall 9, Scott 6, Pickens 5, McDaniel 3, Rapier 2, McCrary 2. 3-point FG - Fulton 6, Guyton, Scott, McDaniel.