Cardinals hit Lake Land with early 12-0 surge, take 5th straight victory
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Mineral Area guard Terron Garrett holds possession on the perimeter during first half men’s basketball action against Barton on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
mking@dailyjournalonline.com
PARK HILLS – The Mineral Area men’s basketball team protected its No. 23 ranking by sweeping a weekend event at Sechrest Fieldhouse.
Nassir Binion scored nine consecutive points for the Cardinals in the first half, and finished with 19 on 8-of-11 shooting to power a 77-68 triumph over Lake Land.
Ngundeng Ruey amassed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Terron Garrett added 11 points to a fifth consecutive win.
Mineral Area (5-2) was a ragged 4-of-25 from 3-point range, but Garrett and Maki Joyner bookended a 12-0 run with triples for an early 16-4 lead that was not relinquished.
Binion drove with a jump stop in the lane to score, and followed two free throws by sinking a runner. His long-range connection created a maximum separation at 35-19.
Iziah Purvey provided nine points with seven rebounds, and assisted two dunks by Ruey on a bounce across the paint and perimeter lob to help maintain a 45-32 lead at halftime.
The Cardinals shot 36 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers, but stayed ahead by hitting 21-of-27 free throws as the Lakers sought a comeback.
Lavell Tinsley poured in a game-high 24 points, and Lake Land (1-5) trailed 56-51 when he regained possession after a deflection to deliver a driving slam with 8:30 remaining.
Garrett answered with a clutch shot from the left corner, and Mineral Area stretched its lead back to 70-58 on a leaping tip by Purvey with exactly three minutes to play.
Tinsley continued to push back by earning two straight trips to the line. His driving left-handed layup with 1:09 on the clock punctuated a 7-0 run.
The Cardinals stayed in attack mode as Jordyn Richard accelerated through an open crease from the left wing to dunk on the ensuing possession.
Tinsley cut the difference to 72-68 from long range, but Mineral Area calmly broke full-court pressure. Nazir Allen passed back to a cutting Binion for another slam in transition.
Allen totaled nine points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Richard contributed eight points with five rebounds. The Cardinals will travel to SW Illinois on Wednesday.
Loic Affoumon netted 18 points, and Stevie Tatum had 12 for Lake Land.
Mineral Area 98, Wabash Valley 65
PARK HILLS – An stellar performance by Terron Garrett highlighted a larger offensive explosion by the Mineral Area men on Friday night.
Garrett was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, and posted 26 points with six rebounds as the Cardinals routed Wabash Valley 98-65.
Mineral Area shot 57 percent collectively, made 12-of-22 perimeter attempts, and spread the scoring around 13 roster members.
Nazir Allen tallied 13 points with two blocks, and Nassir Binion scored 10. The Cardinals carried a commanding 51-32 lead into halftime, and continued to pull away.
Iziah Purvey chipped in eight points, and Lorenzo Shields made a team-high five assists. MAC went 20-of-28 from the free-throw line.
Edwon Duling Jr., Ngundeng Ruey, Maki Joyner, Andrew Starkey and Shields netted six points each.
