POPLAR BLUFF – The Northwest Mississippi Community College men's basketball team (1-1) picked up their first win under new head coach Justin Mann on Saturday afternoon against Three Rivers College (0-2), dominating the Raiders from start to finish on the way to an 83-67 win to close out the 1st Midwest Bank Classic over the tournament hosts.
"I know in this league, winning on the road matters, and so for us to be able to go on the road and get one on a Saturday night at Three Rivers, that's very impressive for our team, but also for the league," Mann said. "I thought we were the tougher team, and to get the first win is huge."
Northwest kicked off the game with a three that gave them the lead, and they would never trail against the Raiders after that, leading them 14-10 before really pulling away on a 7-0 run that extended the lead to double figures at 21-10.
The Raiders did trim back into the deficit, getting it back to a one-possession game in the final minutes of the first half at 35-32, but another push from Northwest into the break would lead them on a 9-6 run to go into the half with a 44-38 advantage.
Both sides traded blows to open the second half, but it was the Rangers who capitalized first, going on a 10-0 run thanks to three-pointers by Chancellor Terry and Haven Terry to extend the lead back to double figures at 61-49 after the Raiders had closed it to a two-point game.
One more push by Three Rivers would come on the heels of the under-12 media timeout when several trips to the foul line would allow for the hosts to close it back to 63-58, but that was the closest it would get.
Three Rivers would attempt to slow the game down, sending the Rangers to the foul line, but good shooting from the stripe and strong defense on the other side wouldn't give the Raiders a chance to get any closer on the way to closing out the 83-67 win.
Mann said it was big for the team, but also for himself to get his first win as the Rangers head coach in the opening weekend, especially against a traditionally strong program.
"The administration gave me the chance to be here at Northwest, and I just want to make sure that they know they got the right man for the job and that we will continue to do what we do," he said.
The team saw another fantastic effort from sophomore Chance Terry, who finished the game with 14 points, adding in three assists and a pair of steals, and going 50 percent from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep.
"Chance is just a bulldog," Mann said. "He's a do-it-all guy and is trying to do everything I ask, and his heart and soul is in it. When I first got the job, he was the first player to come see me in person, and so we've just had a chance to really build a relationship. He's a great guy, he's a dog, he's a worker, and I can't be more proud of him."
He was one of five Rangers who finished the game in double figures, led by Demetrius Duffy who picked up his first double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while also generating three assists.
From the bench, redshirt sophomore Peyton Lindley finished with 15 points, including a 6-for-7 performance from the foul line while picking up five rebounds.
"Peyton's been great," Mann said. "He works hard every day and has a high IQ. He was similar to Chance and was one who called me, wanting to be here still, and he brings it every day. His defense is what sets the tone, and his offense got going today."
Both Haven Terry and Isaiah Thomas finished with 10 points, with Terry picking up a pair of assists and Thomas grabbing four rebounds.
As a team, Northwest finished the game shooting nearly 47 percent from the field, and were a much more efficient 8-of-23 from deep after going 4-of-30 from the three-point line in their opening game against #20 Mineral Area College. They also picked up a season-best 17 assists, led by four from sophomore guard Tre Terrell.
"I think yesterday we had some first-game jitters and we didn't have a plan," Mann said of the team's improvements after just 24 hours. "I also think with them seeing Three Rivers play live last night, they realized you couldn't go up against their seven-footers. You had to go into the paint ready and with a plan."
Northwest will continue their long stretch of road games to open the season with a short ride to Clarksdale on Tuesday for a non-conference battle with Coahoma Community College (1-0), who opened the season with a 78-47 win over Louisiana Knights Post Grad Academy on Saturday. Opening tip for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Keep up with Northwest men's basketball and all athletics news and updates by visiting nwccrangers.com or by following along on Ranger social media accounts.
