CLINTON, MS - The Mississippi College men's basketball team picked up their first win of the season with a 94-72 victory over Howard Payne on Saturday afternoon at A.E. Wood Coliseum.

The Choctaws (1-3, 1-3 ASC) broke open a tight game with a 19-8 run in the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 44-31 halftime advantage.  The run was aided by MC shooting 61% (20-33) from the floor in the period.

In the second half, MC extended their lead to 23 points before Howard Payne made a run and cut the lead to 67-56 with 9:35 to go in the game.  After trading baskets, MC put the game away with a 9-2 run to take an 82-63 lead with just over five minutes left.

For the game, MC shot 63% from the floor after making 15-23 shots in the second half.  The three-point shooting came alive as MC made 7-15, eclipsing their season total of six coming into the contest.

Six Choctaws scored in double-figures led by senior Chad Jones with 22 points  on 9-12 shooting.  Senior Marlon Ester made 4-6 three-pointers to tally 18 points.  Jones and Ester led the way with eight rebounds.

Senior Trevon Malone (14 pts.) and sophomore Brandon Blake (12 pts.) gave MC four starters in double-figures.  Juniors Jesse Taylor and Adam Smith came off the bench to scored 11 and 10 points, repectively.  Taylor made 3-5 three-pointers.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Brandon Gould and Brandon Irwin with 18 points, apiece.  Joshua Dada scored 17 points, making 9-10 free throws.

The Choctaws cleaned up the glass, outrebounding HPU, 39-23.  The advantage led to MC outscoring the Jackets in the paint, 44-24.

The Choctaws will be back on the court on Tuesday night when they host Louisiana College at 7:30 p.m. in the "Golden Dome".