EMCC sophomores Colin Borchert (top left) and D.J. Evans (top right) have earned NJCAA All-Region 23 honors for their regular-season efforts. Fellow Lion sophomores Tradarrius McPhearson (bottom left) and Deon Bedford (bottom right) were chosen to the NJCAA Region 23 All-Tournament team for their postseason performances last weekend in Clinton. (Photos by Chris Todd)

For their regular-season efforts, EMCC sophomores D.J. Evans and Colin Borchert have been named to the 10-player NJCAA All-Region 23 squad.  As the top two vote getters as chosen by Region 23 men’s head basketball coaches, Evans and Borchert will also be nominated for NJCAA All-American honors.

With the EMCC Lions capturing their third consecutive NJCAA Region 23 Tournament championship this past weekend in Clinton, sophomores Deon Bedford and Tradarrius McPhearson were chosen to the all-tournament team by the head coaches of the eight teams participating in the three-day tournament.

Evans, the top vote getter among the Region 23 (Mississippi & Louisiana) player ranks, enters the NJCAA Tournament leading the 15^th-ranked EMCC Lions in scoring (15.9 ppg), assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.7 spg).  The former Jackson All-Metro selection from Brandon High School is also averaging 3.2 rebounds per game, in addition to shooting 41 percent overall from the field, 38 percent from the three-point arc and 71 percent from the free-throw line.  The 5-foot-9 playmaker has started 54 of 56 games played during his two-year EMCC career.    

A transfer from Yavapai College in Arizona, Borchert is EMCC’s second-leading scorer at 15.5 points per game while leading the team in rebounding (7.5 rpg), blocked shots (1.3 bpg) and made 3-pointers (37).  The Phoenix, Ariz., native owns shooting percentages of 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from beyond the arc and 78 percent from the charity stripe.  The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward has recorded six double-doubles on the year, including consecutive double-double showings in the semifinals (15 pts & 10 rebs vs. Pearl River) and finals (11/12 vs. Southern-Shreveport) of last week’s NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

Bedford and McPhearson both stepped up their performances during the regional tournament to land on the 10-man all-tourney team.  A product of West Oktibbeha County High School, Bedford came off the EMCC bench to average 10.3 points, on 67-percent (14-of-21 FGs) shooting, and 5.0 rebounds during the tournament.  McPhearson, from Raymond High School, averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds over the three days in Clinton, along with making 4-of-9 three-point attempts.

In addition to East Mississippi’s individual player accolades, EMCC head coach Mark White has earned NJCAA Region 23 Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honors for the third straight year with the Lions’ three-peat performance last week at the Mississippi College-hosted regional tournament.  The former Mississippi State assistant coach has compiled a five-year coaching record of 103-41 (.715) with the Lions, including collective marks of 75-16 (.824) overall and 33-3 (.917) in MACJC North Division regular-season play over the last three seasons.   

Representing District 15 in next week’s NJCAA Division I Men’s National Basketball Championship as three-time NJCAA Region 23 champions, the 23-4 EMCC Lions will tip off the five-day (March 20-24) tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., by taking on top-ranked and unbeaten (32-0) South Plains College (Texas) in Game 1 Tuesday morning.  Game time is set for 10 a.m. CT at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

All tournament games will air live on NJCAA TV, powered by iHigh.com, at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com.