Freshmen JJ Faulkner and Aiden Goins, teammates at Karns High School in Knoxville last year, combined to score 33 points to lead the Motlow Bucks to a 75-67 season-opening win over Itawamba on Wednesday in Fulton, MS. Itawamba was ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation in the NJCAA preseason poll.
Motlow (1-0) will stay on the road next week with a trip to Birmingham to play Lawson State on Thursday, Nov. 9. The Bucks open their home season at Nisbett Center on Monday, Nov. 13, with Itawamba paying a return visit at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6, but Tullahoma High School students will be admitted free.
The Bucks trailed 36-34 at the half but stormed back to outscore the home team 41-31 in the final 20 minutes. Faulkner had a splendid college debut, scoring 15 points with nine assists, seven steals, and three rebounds.
Goins scored 18 points in only 22 minutes on the floor and added five rebounds and two steals. Winchester sophomore Debron Russell flirted with a double-double, scoring 10 points with nine rebounds.
Also playing in his first college game, freshman Anfernee Hanna, from the Bahamas, approached a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore LaVonte Harris added eight points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Fellow sophomore Lawrence Montgomery scored seven with five rebounds.
Follow the Bucks all season at MotlowSports.com, @motlowsports, and @motlowMBB.
Motlow State Community College competes on the Division I level in baseball, softball, women's soccer, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The Bucks are a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) and compete in Region 7 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Control #: MOT-2041-23
Motlow State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Barbara Scales bscales@mscc.edu, 5002 Motlow College Blvd. Smyrna, TN 37167, 615-220-7976.
Sports Information
C. Scott Shasteen
931-247-5566
sshasteen@mscc.edu