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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Pearl River tops Bears in South Division opener

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

Men's Basketball | 12/4/2015 6:55:00 AM

Box Score

The Bears played tough, but not quite tough enough, as they opened MACJC South Division play Thursday night with a 69-59 loss to visiting Pearl River.
 
With the loss, the Bears fell to 4-4 overall, and 0-1 in the South. The Wildcats moved to 5-3 and 1-0.
 
The game was a back and forth affair in the early going with four lead changes in the first 3:53. But, Pearl River took an 8-7 lead with 16:07 on the clock and they would retain the lead the rest of the night.
 
With Terrell Miller scoring the Bears' first 11 points, the home team trailed 14-11 with 13:16 on the clock. But, the Wildcats would later push their lead to 34-24, with 0:57 to go in the half and they took a 34-26 lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
The Bears continued to play tough in the second half, but each time they would make a run at the lead, the Wildcats would find an answer to the challenge.
 
Emanuel Thompson's basket and free throw pulled the Bears back to within five points, 36-31, with 18:51 left in the game.  But, 1:29 later, the Wildcats were back up to an 11-point, 42-31, lead.
 
Trailing 45-31, free throws from Chris McIntosh and a three-point play by Rodrick Sikes brought the Bears back to within eight, 45-37, with 13:49 to play. 
 
Four more times, the Bears would pull to within eight points, but they would be unable to cross that barrier as the Wildcats held on for the 10-point win.
 
"Pearl River played pretty good," said Bears' head coach Thomas Gray. "We were not focused on our game plan (and) did not do a good job on the boards. They outrebounded us 35-17. We just all around need to have a sharper focus and be able to get into the flow of the game more."
 
Sikes topped the Bears in scoring with 17 points while Miller finished the game with 13 points. The Bears hit 14 of 18 free throws.
 
Pearl River's Cortez Mitchell led all scorers with 24 points. The Wildcats made 12 of 17 free throws.
 
The Bears take to the road for their next contest as they travel to Utica Monday night to face the Hinds Bulldogs. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 start.
 
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Players Mentioned

Terrell Miller

#1 Terrell Miller

F
6' 8"
Sophomore
Chris McIntosh

#5 Chris McIntosh

G/F
6' 4"
Sophomore
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

G/F
6' 4"
Freshman
Rodrick Sikes

#24 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Terrell Miller

#1 Terrell Miller

6' 8"
Sophomore
F
Chris McIntosh

#5 Chris McIntosh

6' 4"
Sophomore
G/F
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

6' 4"
Freshman
G/F
Rodrick Sikes

#24 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Freshman
G