By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 7:33 AM CST

PARK HILLS — The Mineral Area College men’s basketball team enjoyed a nine-point advantage during one juncture, and carried a narrow lead into the final minute against sixth-ranked SW Illinois on Tuesday night.

But after yielding the tying basket on a costly turnover, the Cardinals decided against holding for the final shot of regulation. The resulting close-range miss gave the Blue Storm ample time to execute a game-winning play.

Sophomore forward Tommy Pelczynski pulled up along the baseline and drilled a 10-foot jumper with four seconds remaining, as SW Illinois spoiled the Cardinals’ home opener with a 68-66 comeback victory.

Mineral Area (2-2) regained a 66-64 edge when freshman guard Bobby Peebles made a driving dish to center Shamus Ferguson for an uncontested dunk with 1:01 to play.

The Cardinals blocked an ensuing layup attempt, but promptly handed back possession by losing the ball out of bounds. Kenny Leverette pulled SWIC even with a strong finish off the subsequent inbounds pass.

Leverette scored 12 points and post player Aaron Nelson added 11 with seven rebounds to pace SW Illinois (3-1), which escaped the Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse victorious for the third consecutive year.

The Blue Storm also converted 17-of-23 free throws attempted, and received nine points each from Pelczynski and Walter Hill.

MAC used a series of defensive stops to seize momentum midway through the second half, and achieved its largest lead of 53-44 on a follow slam by Carlton Guyton after Riley Raulston and Martell Anderson buried 3-pointers.

However, the margin was erased in less than three minutes. Mike Augustine knocked down his first of two second-half triples, and Nelson’s strong putback with 7:42 left tied the contest at 55-55.

The Cardinals faced their largest deficit at 24-16, but discovered success with slashing movement away from the ball. Guyton sparked Mineral Area by netting 14 of his game-high 21 points during the opening stanza.

Guyton evened the score with a quick steal and layup just seconds after knocking down a mid-range jumper, and a driving scoop from Anderson put the Cardinals ahead 36-35 at intermission.

Demetrius Harris posted 10 points and eight rebounds for Mineral Area, which returns to action next Wednesday against Lewis & Clark.

SW Illinois  35  33 - 68

Mineral Area  36  30 - 66

SCORING:

SW Illinois - Leverette 12, Nelson 11, Hill 9, Pelczynski 9, Augustine 8, Cleveland 6, Roundtree 5, Thomas 4, Moore 2, Sain 2. 3-point FG - Augustine 2, Pelczynski.

Mineral Area - Guyton 21, Harris 10, Raulston 6, Anderson 6, Thomas 5, Wright 4, Minner 4, Rapier 3, Ferguson 3, Shorter 2, Peebles 2. 3-point FG - Raulston 2, Anderson.