DU QUOIN — The Massac County Patriots used big runs at the beginning of the third and fourth quarters to beat Carmi-White County 59-38 in the opening game from night two of the Du Quoin Tip-Off Classic.
The Patriots led 24-17 at the half, but opened the third on a 12-2 spurt to extend their lead to 17 points. The Bulldogs cut it to 11, but Tragen Keyes hit a pull-up jumper in the closing seconds of the third giving Massac County a 40-27 lead heading to the fourth.
Ethan Mahon’s three-pointer early in the fourth drew Carmi-White County within 40-30, but the Patriots proceeded to tally 13 of the next 15 points to put it away.
Jase Mizell led Massac County with 17. Julian Russell added 15. Mahon led the Bulldogs with 17.
Massac County improves to 2-0 in the tournament. The Patriots will take Friday off before two games Saturday. Carmi-White County falls to 0-2 in the tourney. The Bulldogs will meet Cairo at 5:30 Friday.