Bucs Pull Away from Dyersburg State

COLUMBIA, Tenn. - The Shelton State Community College men's basketball defeated Dyersburg Stare 90-77 in the first round of the Johnny Littrell Classic at the Webster Athletic Center on Thursday.

Shelton State  (11-2) led by only four points with six minutes left, before outscoring the Eagles 17-8 down the stretch for the double-digit win. 

The Bucs never trailed in the second half. Dyersburg cut the deficit to two points on two different occasions but never got closer. 

Shelton State took its first double digit lead 79-69 on a layup by freshman Raymon McCants (Birmingham) with 3:33 left. 

The Bucs recorded 12 steals which resulted in easy transition baskets. 

Shelton State shot 58.3 percent (35-60) from the floor, the second best shooting night of the year. The Bucs made 20-of-46 (.630) two-point shots, mostly in transition. 

Freshman Rodwick Jackson (Headland)  paced the Bucs with a game-high 22 points. He made 10-of-16 field goal attempts. He also added six rebounds. 

The 22 points and 10 field goals made are the most by a Bucs player this season. 

Sophomore DJ Hamlett (Hillcrest HS) added 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting. He also added three rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Frederick Derrick (Huntsville) made all three 3-point attempts and finished with 16 points. He also had four steals and three assists. 

The Bucs led 46-37 at halftime as Jackson (13) and Derrick (12) combined for 25 first-half points. 

Sophomore Shah Hall (Hillcrest HS) and  freshman TJ Pruitt (Huntsville) had nine points each.

Freshman Bryant Aijero (Missouri City, Texas) had nine rebounds and Hall pulled down eight. 

Dyersburg State (2-7) was led by Cameron Stephen, who had a game-high 23 points.  

The Bucs return to floor on Friday at Noon (CT) against the host team Columbia State.