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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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BRCC gets late bucket to defeat Bears, 64-63

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Rodrick Sikes

Men's Basketball | 11/17/2015 8:33:00 AM

Baton Rouge Community College led for only 0:02 Monday night, but it was enough as they pulled off a 64-63 win over the Bears to close out the first day of the Southwest/Coca-Cola Classic.
 
The Bears seemed to have things well in hand in the early going with four players combining to give them an 8-0 lead with 16:50 left in the first half. Lafayette Rutledge nailed his third three pointer of the half to give the Bears their biggest lead of the night, 19-7, with 12:49 on the clock.
 
BRCC hung tough and pulled back to within four points, 24-20, on Karim El-Amin's bucket with 4:57 remaining. The Bears then took a 28-23 lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
The Bears (3-2) extended their lead to nine points, 34-25, on Emanuel Thompson's jumper with 17:56 to play in the game. The lead went to 11 points, 47-36, on a pair of Mario Doyle free throws with 11:57 still to play.
 
But, still BRCC (1-6) stayed in the game, drawing to within two points, 49-47, with 7:27 left on the clock. The Bears then outscored the visitors 7-0 to push back out to a nine-point advantage, 56-47, with 6:09 to go.
 
The rest of the game then seemed to belong to BRCC as they scored 17 of the final 23 points. El-Amin nailed the game-winner with only 0:02 to play, leaving the Bears with no time to attempt another shot.
 
Southwest head coach Thomas Gray said after the game that "Baton Rouge played hard (and) made plays down the stretch that we didn't make. We made poor decisions down the stretch, fouled way too much. (It was) just a situation where we did not finish well."
 
"Credit Baton Rouge," Gray concluded, "for their mental toughness in sticking through being down the entire game and coming back and taking the lead with two seconds left."
 
Rutledge had 21 points, 18 coming from three-point range, to lead the Bears' offense. Rodrick Sikes was also in double figures with 12 points. The Bears made 15 of 25 free throws.
 
Karim El-Amin had 22 points for Baton Rouge to lead all scorers. BRCC hit 10 of 18 free throws.
 
The Bears close out the Coca-Cola Classic tonight when they face the Jaguars of Southern-Shreveport at 7:15. The game can be heard on WAKK 107.7FM. It will also be available on the internet at southwestbearathletics.com and 1077.com as well as on smartphones (download the k106 app).
 
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Players Mentioned

Lafayette Rutledge

#3 Lafayette Rutledge

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

G/F
6' 4"
Freshman
Rodrick Sikes

#24 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Lafayette Rutledge

#3 Lafayette Rutledge

5' 11"
Sophomore
G
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

6' 4"
Freshman
G/F
Rodrick Sikes

#24 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Freshman
G