Malik Newman scored a career-best 50 points Monday against Provine.
(Photo: Chris Todd/Special to The Clarion-Ledger)

Callaway (Miss.) coach David Sanders makes Malik Newman work for his compliments.

The five-star guard certained earned them on Monday.

“I told him earlier (Monday) after the semifinal game, ‘Dude, you are pretty good,’” Sanders said. “I don’t think I have ever told him that but it was time for to tell him.”

With Kentucky coach John Calipari and Mississippi State coach Rick Ray watching at the final of the JPS/Pepsi Holiday Tournament, Newman was even better in the night game.

The Chargers senior scored a career-best 50 points as Callaway knocked off rival Provine 85-69 to win the tourney championship at Forest Hill.

The 50 points followed 40 in the semifinal Monday morning. In that game, Newman had 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 17 minutes.

In the first game of the tournament Saturday, he scored 44 points against Wingfield, bringing his total to 134 points for three games.

“It was all working for me at the right time,” said Newman, who was 15-of-31 shooting Monday night on his way to 50.

In the final, Newman scored 20 of the Chargers’ first 22 points in the first quarter and had 32 points at halftime. With 1:15 left in the fourth quarter, Newman made a 3-pointer to reach the 50-point mark.

“I had a great shoot-around in pregame so that is when I knew it,” he said. “For us to come in here and play hard and get the tournament title means a whole lot for us.”

Newman’s uncle Mo Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves also was impressed.

Dandy Dozen forward Jerekius Davis led Provine with 31 points. Enrique Milton added 17 points for the Rams (10-4).

“You have to stay focused for four quarters and we were not,” Provine coach Otis Gaines said. “We lost our focus and did not stick to the gameplan, and Malik did what he had to do for his team to win.”