Hot Shooting Lifts Rust Over Virgin Islands

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College men's basketball program shot better than 50% from the field (30-for-57, 52.6%) and saw four of its five starters score in double-figures as it welcomed the University of the Virgin Islands to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with a 76-71 triumph in Northern Mississippi.

The Basics: 

• Score
• • Rust – 76
  • Virgin Islands – 71

• Records
• • Rust (6-7, 3-4 Gulf Coast)
  • Virgin Islands (3-9, 1-5 Gulf Coast)

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

• Series History (Since 2016-17)
• • Rust Leads 1-0 (100%)

• Winning Streak (Since 2016-17)
• • Rust (W1) | Virgin Islands' Last Win: N/A

Rust Top Performers: 

• The starting five of Jordin Jackson, Khalil Brown, Christopher Hood, Catthadious Moore, and Xavier Evans combined to drop 56 points, 21 rebounds, ten assists, five steals, and one of the team's two blocks as a usually deep bench was held fairly quiet.

• Brown and Moore shared the scoring lead at 16 apiece to front the Bearcats, going 6-of-13 (46.2%) and 7-of-10 (70%), respectively, with the latter swiping a game-best three steals and a Bearcat-best six rebounds.

• Evans was a perfect 4-for-4 along with an additional four free throws as he picked up 12 points and four boards.

• Hood collected a solid 15 points on six buckets and while Jackson only put seven points in the stat sheet, he made up for it by dishing out a quartet of assists, tops on the team.

Next:

• Back to .500, in both the conference and overall, is the goal for Friday's back-to-back nightcap as the Talladega Tornadoes blow into town for a 7:30 p.m. start.