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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears ease by Southern-Shreveport, 75-68

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Bears vs. Southern-Shreveport

Men's Basketball | 11/16/2016 7:09:00 AM

Box Score

Bouncing back from a tough loss on Monday night, the Bears closed out the Southwest/Coca-Cola Classic Tuesday night with a 75-68 win over the Jaguars of Southern-Shreveport.
 
The Bears took a quick 2-0 lead on a Mike Parks, Jr.., jumper from inside the paint and soon increased the lead to 7-1 on Rodrick Sikes' basket with 16:52 left in the half.
 
With 13:14 on the clock, Antonio Cowart, Jr., nailed a long-range jumper to put the Bears (2-2) on top by 11, 16-5. Less than 3:00 later, the lead ballooned to 24-8 on another Sikes bucket.
 
Seven straight points by the Jaguars narrowed their deficit to nine points, 24-15, but eight straight scored by the Bears again put them ahead by 16, 31-15, with 8:08 before the half.
 
A 16-7 run by the Jaguars (4-4) then left the Bears on top 38-31 at the end of the first half.
 
After James Hawthorne put the Bears up 42-32 early in the second half, the Jaguars began firing on all cylinders, going on a 14-2 run to take a 46-44 lead with 14:50 remaining. Jump started by a Cowart, Jr., three-pointer, the Bears then went on a run of their own, outscoring the visitors 15-4 to move out to a 59-50 lead with 7:18 to go.
 
Leading 69-60, the Bears saw the Jaguars close to within three points, 71-68, with 0:54 showing. However, they would come no closer as Sikes went 4-4 from the free throw line in the final seconds to seal the deal for the Bears.
 
"I'm so proud of the way our guys responded tonight after such a tough night on Monday," said Bears' head man Thomas Gray. "It started with sophomore leadership."
 
"We talked about James 1:2 this morning," Gray went on "and how this (game) was a huge test. Our guys know tough times come over the course of a season. Tonight shows me that I am blessed to be a part of a team like this. Not many teams could have responded this way."
 
"Tonight wasn't about a specific individual playing particularly well," Gray concluded. "Tonight was all about our team-all 15 players, three coaches and three student assistants-and I couldn't be more proud to be one of the coaches of this team."
 
Sikes topped everyone in the game with 20 points and nine rebounds. Cowart recorded 13 points while Hawthorne added 13 and Parks, Jr., had 10. The Bears made 12 of 16 free throws.
 
Herbert Atkins and Darrion Jacobs both scored 17 points for the Jaguars. They combined with their teammates to make 11 of 19 free throws.
 
The Bears travel to Mobile, AL, for their next contest, taking on the Mobile University JV squad Saturday. Tipoff is set for 12:00.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Antonio Cowart, Jr.

#4 Antonio Cowart, Jr.

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Mike Parks, Jr.

#22 Mike Parks, Jr.

C
6' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Antonio Cowart, Jr.

#4 Antonio Cowart, Jr.

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Mike Parks, Jr.

#22 Mike Parks, Jr.

6' 9"
Sophomore
C