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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Pearl River

Men's Basketball Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Bears fall hard at Pearl River

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Playing on the road in the MACJC is never easy and Thursday night was no different as the Southwest Bears found out in a tough 81-69 loss to the Pearl River Wildcats in Poplarville. The game marked the opening of the South Division schedule for both teams.
 
The Bears took an early 2-0 lead on David Burrell (Milwaukee, WI, Believe Prep Academy)'s basket before Pearl River ran off 11 straight points to go up 11-2 with 16:57 left in the half. Down17-9, the Bears outscored their hosts 11-2, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by Xavion Dillon (Tylertown, MS, Tylertown), to take a 20-19 lead with 9:58 on the clock.
 
Pearl River (8-0, 1-0) then quickly reeled off 10 straight points to regain the lead, 29-20, with 7:30 to play. Minutes later, they had pushed their lead to 12 points, 38-26, before taking a 40-32 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
The Bears (2-5, 0-1) would make several comeback attempts in the second half, but Pearl River would find a way to answer each attempt and maintain their advantage.
 
Trent Jeffries (Gulfport, MS, Harrison Central) opened the second half with 11 of his team-high 18 points for the Bears and pulled his team back to within three points, 43-40, with 17:54 left in the game. But, a 21-7 run pushed the Pearl River lead up to 17 points, 64-17.
 
A Dillon three-pointer and Lafayette Rutledge (Gautier, MS, Gautier)  jumper served as bookends to a 10-0 Southwest run that brought the Bears back to within seven points, 64-57, with 5:55 remaining. But, again, Pearl River answered and found themselves on top by 14, 74-60, with 2:44 to go.
 
Burrell and Rutledge hit three-pointers on the front and back end of a 9-0 Southwest run that had the Bears within seven points, 76-69, with 0:51 showing. But, that would prove to be the last chance for the Bears as Pearl River pulled away to the 12-point victory.
 
"Pearl River's a tough team to play against," said Bears' head man Thomas Gray. "They've got a good team (with) a lot of athletic kids, a lot of big kids. We don't really match up too well with them."
 
"They (Pearl River) made some big shots, some tough shots that took us out of our defense," Gray continued. "It was a situation in which I thought we just did not play well."
 
Burrell and Dillon both scored 16 points for the Bears while Rutledge was also in double figures with 10 points. Rutledge also added eight assists.
 
Jaylen Moore (Gulfport, MS, Harrison Central) picked up four points in the game while Justin McCray (Ridgeland, MS, Ridgeland) netted three and Chris McIntosh (Jackson, MS, Murrah) added two. The Bears hit 10 of 16 free throws.
 
Cortez Mitchell and Darrlyn Willis both scored 19 points to lead Pearl River. The Wildcats made nine of 10 free throws.
 
The Bears close out the first semester of play on Monday when they host the Hinds Bulldogs in South Division play. The contest is set for a 7:15 tip.
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Xavion Dillon

#1 Xavion Dillon

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
David Burrell

#2 David Burrell

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Lafayette Rutledge

#3 Lafayette Rutledge

G
5' 11"
Freshman
Chris McIntosh

#5 Chris McIntosh

G/F
6' 4"
Freshman
Trent Jeffries

#11 Trent Jeffries

G/F
6' 4"
Sophomore
Jaylen Moore

#12 Jaylen Moore

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Justin McCray

#14 Justin McCray

F
6' 6"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Xavion Dillon

#1 Xavion Dillon

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
David Burrell

#2 David Burrell

6' 6"
Freshman
F
Lafayette Rutledge

#3 Lafayette Rutledge

5' 11"
Freshman
G
Chris McIntosh

#5 Chris McIntosh

6' 4"
Freshman
G/F
Trent Jeffries

#11 Trent Jeffries

6' 4"
Sophomore
G/F
Jaylen Moore

#12 Jaylen Moore

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Justin McCray

#14 Justin McCray

6' 6"
Sophomore
F