Cardinals Rally Past State Fair In OT, Prepare For Homecoming on Jan. 31

PARK HILLS, Mo. — The Mineral Area College Cardinals men's basketball team put together a gutsy second-half comeback and a strong overtime performance to defeat State Fair, 79–74, on Friday, January 23 at Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse.

The Cardinals trailed 40–26 at halftime after struggling to find rhythm offensively in the opening 20 minutes. State Fair controlled the tempo early and capitalized at the free-throw line, led by Andin Ashford, who poured in a game-high 27 points for the Roadrunners.

Mineral Area responded with renewed energy after the break, outscoring State Fair 53–34 in the second half to erase the deficit and force overtime. The Cardinals' defensive intensity picked up, creating turnovers and limiting second-chance opportunities while steadily chipping away at the lead.

Nazir Allen sparked the comeback with a dominant performance inside, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Jordyn Richard added 19 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting and went a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Terron Garrett contributed 16 points, including two three-pointers, while Edwon Duling Jr. chipped in 12 points and four assists.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 14-7 overall and 4-1 in Region 16 play.  MAC will now prepare for #23 ranked and rival Three Rivers for a homecoming showdown at MAC on Saturday, January 31.  Saturday's game is schedule for a 4pm tip.