Men’s Basketball Comes Up Short In The Final Seconds Of Season Opener

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College men's basketball program had multiple chances in the final five seconds of the ballgame to either win or tie the contest during the season opener vs. Blue Mountain Christian, winding up falling just three points shy in a 62-59 setback in Head Coach Howard White Jr.'s debut.

The Basics:

• Score
  • Blue Mountain Christian – 62
  • Rust – 59

• Records
  • Rust (0-1, 0-0 Gulf Coast)
  • Blue Mountain Christian (1-1, 0-0 Southern States)

• Location
  • Holly Springs, Mississippi – W.A. McMillan Center

• Series History (Since 2008)
  • Blue Mountain Christian Leads 5-4 (44.4%)

• Winning Streak (Since 2008)
  • Blue Mountain Christian (W2) | Rust's Last Win: December 5, 2020 (81-76)

Rust Top Performers:

• Catthadious Moore proved that he was the All-GCAC Second Team hype, collecting a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in his first game back, leading the Cats in boards with a 50% shooting percentage.

• Tariq Humes was the only student-athlete for the home five to score more, one-upping him with a baker's dozen of 13 while also making half of his ten buckets, doing all of his damage in just 15 minutes off the pine.

• Christopher Hood could change his name to Robin Hood and nobody would have noticed the difference, if even only for the night, robbing the Toppers with seven game-high seven steals, securing seven rebounds, dropping nine points, logging a pair of assists, plus a blocked shot.

• Xavier Evans was the most efficient Bearcat on the evening, shooting 5-of-8 (62.5%) en route to 11 points, a near double-double as well due to nine rebounds, and a Bearcat-best three dimes.

Notes:

• The Bearcats shot nearly 10% better than the Toppers, connecting on 21-of-51 (41.2%) field goal attempts compared to the visitors going 20-for-61 (32.8%).

Next:

• The guys from northern Mississippi will take to the road in search of Coach White's first win as the leader, looking for victory number one next Tuesday, November 7 at Crowley's Ridge (7 p.m.).