LSUs Lloreda Sparks Win

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Dixie J.C. might have lost its head coach and a large half-time lead, but the Rebels had enough gas in the tank to hold off Arkansas/Fort Smith on Wednesday afternoon at the NJCAA Tournament.

Jamie Lloreda (LSU) hit three of four free throws in the final 1:14, sandwiched around an Alfred Williams lay-in, as Dixie advanced to the NJCAA quarterfinals with a 73-68 victory over the Lions.

Despite losing Head Coach Jeff Kidder (ejected for arguing with officials) in the opening three minutes of the contest, the Rebels enjoyed a 46-34 half-time lead.

Arkansas-Fort Smith (nee Westark), which finished fifth at last year's NJCAA Tournament, came out of the gate strong in the second half, using a 15-2 run to take a 49-48 lead five minutes into the stanza.

Dixie wrested the lead back over the next few minutes, but never led by more than six points the rest of the way. Trailing 64-58, the Lions used a 10-4 run, capped by a Donnell Haynes basket, to knot the game at 68 with 1:38 left.

That's when Lloreda hit one of two free throws with 1:14 to play, giving Dixie the lead for good. Williams, an explosive sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., scored around the tin on the Rebels' next possession to extend the lead to three with :42.1 to play. A key steal by sophomore Shawn Bellmon set up Williams' basket.

Fort Smith had several chances in the game's final 40 seconds, but neither Kevin Bell nor Jarrett Hart could convert three pointers to send the game into overtime. Lloreda then hit a pair of free throws with 4.7 seconds left to cap the scoring.

Williams led Dixie with 20 points and seven rebounds, while a foul plagued Lloreda (LSU) added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Kevin Woodbery (13 points) and shooting guard Rod Prater (13) each hit double figures for the Rebels as well.

Hart, the University of Oklahoma transfer in his second year at the Arkansas junior college, led all scorers with 21 points. Texas Tech transfer Rodney Bass chipped in 15 and American University transfer Kevin Bell collected 11 points in defeat.

Dixie will face Southern Union in a Thursday night quarterfinal round battle, while Fort Smith will challenge South Plains on Thursday afternoon in a consolation round game.