The Angelina College Roadrunner basketball team revealed a couple of things about itself during the weekend’s McLennan Classic in Waco, a tourney in which the ‘Runners defeated Hill College before losing to the hometown McLennan Highlanders. They learned these lessons just in time to take on tonight’s opponent, the Wiley College JV.

First, the Roadrunners are young, with a roster featuring 12 freshmen and just two sophomores. They’re talented, but they obviously have plenty to learn.

Secondly – and more importantly – this group just won’t quit.

The ‘Runners (2-1) twice rallied from double-digit deficits, overtaking Hill’s Rebels on Friday but falling short against the Highlanders on Saturday. Against, Hill College, AC trailed by 16 with 10:48 to play; however, the freshmen talent level kicked it up a notch, and AC outscored Hill 33-12 over final minutes to take 76-72 win. Adrick McKinney and Joevoskie Mitchell teamed up for 17 of those points, with Mitchell hitting a pair of threes and McKinney doing dirty work on the boards to help cap the rally.

Against McLennan on Saturday, cold shooting by the Roadrunners led to a 22-2 deficit to open the game. AC hit just two of its first 19 field-goal attempts in that frigid span. But a steady, patient approach on offense, combined with a one-stop-at-a-time defensive mentality, allowed the ‘Runners to move to within five points of the Highlanders. McLennan was able to pull away late to thwart the AC rally, but the Roadrunners had shown once again their ability to battle back from plenty down.

Tonight, the Roadrunners will host the junior varsity from Wiley College at Shands Gym in Lufkin. After three games, sophomore Takoby Jackson leads AC with a 15.7 points-per-game average; he’s also leading the team in steals with nine.
Right behind Jackson is McKinney, whose 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds leave him tenths of a point from averaging a double-double. Mitchell is third on the team at 13.0 points per game.

Wiley College, and NAIA school, is a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.
Tonight’s contest will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium in Lufkin.