The venue was different, but the result was the same.
After knocking out No. 5 Mineral Area last weekend in Poplar Bluff, the John A. Logan men's basketball team ventured north to Vincennes, Ind., Friday, beating No. 18 Northeast Mississippi 82-67 at the McDonalds Classic.
The Vols stayed perfect on the season, moving to 3-0 as five players finished in double figures.
John A. Logan was led in scoring by Bradley transfer Sean East and his 20 points, while Tennessee Tech transfer Tuhauntae Williams netted 19 points, 17 coming in the first half as JALC built a 38-28 halftime lead.
Cam Alford had 18 points, while Cobie Barnes tacked on 13 points and Sarion McGee tossed in 12 points.
The Vols torched the nets from the free throw line, knocking down 27-of-29 and finished at 93% as McGee was 8-for-8, Alford was 6-for-6, Barnes was 2-for-2, while East was 6-for-7 and Williams was 5-for-6.
The loss was the first of the season for Northeast Mississippi, who fall to 3-1 and came into the game, averaging 95 points per game.
The Tiger's were led in scoring Kylan Blackmon's 16 points as the freshman guard from Oxford, Mississippi came into the game averaging 26 a night.
The Tigers cut a second half 20-point Logan lead to nine points after Blackmon came up with a steal and layup, making it a 72-63 Vols' advantage with 3:59 to play.
John A. Logan tailed only once, 17-14 in the first half, but would go on to outscore the Tigers 24-11 over the final 9:38.
On a day when No. 2 South Plains lost to Panola, 46-63, John A. Logan could move up a spot in the NJCAA rankings with a win Saturday over East Mississippi Saturday in Vincennes, scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
