Bucs Rally Past East Central

TUSCALOOSA - The Shelton State Community College men's basketball team used a late first half rally to post a 71-54 win over East Central Community College on Thursday night at the Umphrey Center.

Shelton State trailed for much of the first half and found itself down 23-17 after a Cameron Lee layup with 7:40 left in the half.

The Bucs troubles were attributed to 12 missed free throws and six turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

"We have to figure out ways to get off to a better start," head coach Joe Eatmon said. "A few games this year, we've gotten off to slow starts. We've got to come out locked in, focused and ready to play."

The fortunes changed in the final three minutes as the Bucs closed the half on a 12-0 run. 

Freshman King Larkin (Tuscaloosa) hit a go-ahead layup with 2:54 left to give  Shelton State its first lead at 25-24. 

Freshman Anderson Wilkin (Tuscaloosa) buried a 3-pointer and Larkin hit another layup, followed by free throw to make it 31-24.

Larkin added a put back and Wilkin hit two free throws to push the lead to 35-24 at the half.

Larkin (11) and Wilkin (10) accounted 21 first half points, including the final 12 points to close the half.

"We had some guys that brought some energy to end the half and we built off that," Eatmon said.

Shelton State (7-1), winners of four straight games, controlled the entire second half, and took its biggest lead of the game 72-54 on a layup by freshman Fredrick Derrick(Huntsville) with 1:23 left.

Larkin recorded his first career double-double, with 15 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

In his last four games, he has posted 52 points and 26 rebounds for the Bucs.

"We saw a lot of potential coming out of high school," Eatmon said. (Larkin)has been doing a lot for us. He brings a lot to table. He is doing his job."

Wilkin and sophomore DJ Hamlett (Tuscaloosa) were the only other two players in double figures with 13 points each. 

Sophomore Shah Hall (Tuscaloosa) finished with eight points and 12 rebounds.  

The Bucs out rebounded the Warriors 47-46, but lost the battle on the offensive glass, 18-14.

Shelton State (23-42) missed 19 free throws in the win.

East Central (2-5) was led by Chris Moliere with 14 points.

The Bucs will close out its five-game home stand on Monday, Nov. 24 against Copiah-Lincoln at 6 p.m.