The Southwest Bears got the 2012 portion of the season got off to an exciting start Monday night as they traveled to Moorhead and left with an 83-80 overtime win over host Mississippi Delta. The Southwest ladies were not as fortunate as they fell 82-48.
Southwest (5-6) took an early 2-0 lead in the men’s game on a Michael Hall basket. A Mikel Henry three-pointer with 4:33 left in the half put the Bears on top 39-25 and they went into the locker room with a 41-28 lead at the break.
The Bears seemed to have things well in hand early in the second half when a Cory Lacy jumper put them on top 45-30 with 18:48 to play. But, slowly and methodically, Delta (6-4) climbed back into the contest and took their first lead of the game, 49-48, on a layup by Sean Hall with 12:14 on the clock.
Southwest regained the lead minutes later on two Cory Lacy free throws and built their advantage back to five points, 69-64, on a Parker Moore shot with 2:41 to go. Two three-point baskets by Xzabian Ramiz kept the Trojans close and a clutch basket on a rebound by Danny Bolden with 0:00.1 left on the clock forced the overtime.
The Trojans blasted their way to a five-point lead in the extra frame, but Southwest proved it still had some fight left as the Bears came back to take an 81-80 lead on a Lacy free throw with 0:8.9 to play. Wesley Blackmon was then fouled on a steal and hit two free throws to give the Bears their final margin of victory.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys for showing so much fight and determination for our first road win,” said Southwest head coach Casey Carter. The Bears had lost their three previous road contests this season.
“To get a sweep over a really talented Mississippi Delta team is huge for us,” Carter went on “and will help us to move forward. To compete in the South (Division) we’ll have to go on the road and win some games and we’ll have to draw from this one to do it.”
Blackmon netted 21 points on the night to lead four Bears in double figures. Mark Bridgewater came away with 13 points while Lacy had 12 and Parker Moore added 10.
Josh Brannon scored seven points while Hall had six. Devin Flowers and Mikel Henry both scored five and Christopher Lawrence had four. The Bears hit 21 of 28 free throws.
Ramiz had 24 points for the Trojans to lead all scorers. Delta made 12 of 18 charity shots.
Southwest makes its first home court appearance of 2012 Thursday night when they host the men and women of Holmes. The night gets underway with the ladies’ tip off at 5:00.
