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Chris Jones @ Gulf Coast

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

Last-second heroics give Bears overtime win at Gulf Coast

A buzzer-beating rebound and jumper at the end of regulation by Xavion Dillon and free throws in overtime by Jaylen Moore helped the Southwest Bears overcome a 16-point, second-half deficit Monday night and pick up an 88-87 win on the road at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 
Dillon grabbed a missed Moore free throw and dropped the ball in the basket as time expired to force the game into the extra frame. Moore then went five of six from the free throw line in overtime, nailing a pair with 0:09 left, to give the Bears the victory.
 
The win avenged an earlier home-loss to Gulf Coast and gave the Bears a record of 11-7 on the season and, at 5-4, moved them into a tie with Pearl River for third place in the MACJC South Division. Gulf Coast dropped to 14-4 and into second place in the South with a 7-2 mark.
 
Things looked bleak for Southwest most of the night. Falling behind by 10 points, 20-10, with 10:33 to play in the first half, the Bears cut the lead to six points on three occasions, but the Bulldogs found an answer each time. They then took an 11-point, 39-28 lead into intermission.
 
The Bulldogs seemed on the verge of a blowout win early in the second half as they scored seven of the first nine points of the second half to take a 46-30 lead with 18:21 left in the game. Southwest would then cut the lead to 10 points four times, but as in the first half, the Bulldogs would find an answer to extend their lead again.
 
Finding themselves down by 10 points again, 64-54 with 10:31 left in the game, the Bears slowly but surely began their comeback. Outscoring Gulf Coast 23-15 over the next 10:27, the Bears then found themselves down by only three points, 79-76, with 0:04 on the clock and Jaylen Moore at the free throw line.
 
Moore nailed his first attempt to make the score 79-77. The second shot rattled out, but Dillon was in the right place at the right time for the Bears and the game continued into extra play.
 
The Bears took their first lead of the night, 81-79, on Dillon's layup with 4:29 showing. Gulf Coast then scored seven of the next eight points to go up by four, 84-82, with 0:55 to play.
 
Moore then hit a jumper and two free throws to tie the game at 86-86 before Gulf Coast took an 88-86 lead with 0:15. A Gulf Coast foul then put Moore at the free throw line. Moore calmly nailed two shots, putting the Bears on top. Gulf Coast tried furiously, but failed, to get a shot off as time ran out, allowing the Bears to leave Perkinston with the win.
 
"I'm really proud of the way we were able to fight back and finish the game after not playing well more of the night," said Bears' head man Casey Carter.
 
"When you get 51 total points from your point guards," Carter went on, "you are going to have a chance. Winning at Gulf Coast is not easy at all so we are very excited."
 
Guards Moore and Chris Jones nailed 26 and 25 points, respectively, to lead the Bears' attack. Corey Williams was also in double figures with 12 points.
 
 Twymond Howard had nine points in the game, along with 10 rebounds, while Deione Weeks scored eight. Dillon recorded six points and Jamal Hester netted two. Southwest hit 26 of 35 free throws.
 
Tony Bridges and Rogers Woods both scored 26 points to lead Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs struggled at the free throw line, hitting 25 of 42.
 
The Bears try to avenge another loss Thursday night as they return home to face arch-rival Co-Lin. Tipoff is set for 7:15.

Box Score-----
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