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Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears defeat East Central for fifth straight win

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Mario Doyle

Men's Basketball | 12/6/2016 8:11:00 AM

Box Score

Playing their final game of 2016, and opening MACJC South Division action, the Bears extended their winning streak to five games as they defeated the East Central Warriors 76-62 Monday night in Summit.
 
An Antonio Cowart, Jr.., layup and two James Hawthorne free throws put the Bears (6-2, 1-0) up 4-0 with 18:34 left in the first half.
 
Fans then saw eight lead changes and four times over the course of the next 14:00 before an 11-0 run, capped by a pair of Mario Doyle free throws, left the Bears with a 31-22 lead with 1:40 before the half. They then took a 33-35 advantage into the intermission.
 
Leading by nine, 34-25, early in the second half, the Bears saw East Central (4-3, 0-1) score 11 of the next 17 points to pull to within 40-36 with 14:31 left in the game. Three pointers form Rodrick Sikes and Cowart, Jr., then served as bookends to a 14-4 run by the Bears that left them on top 54-40 with 10:31 left.
 
After East Central pulled to within seven, 54-47, the Bears then scored six straight to increase their lead to 60-47 with 8:30 to play. They took their biggest lead of the night, 71-55, with 2:45 to go and went on to the 14-point victory.
 
"Anytime you win a South Division game, it's huge," said Bears' head man Thomas Gray post-game.
 
"I was really proud of these guys," Gray wen to. "Three weeks ago we had a tough (loss) against Baton Rouge and they really responded and, most importantly, came together as a team. I think we've seen a team play the past five games instead of individuals (and) tonight was a great team win."
 
Gray said the Bears had a "huge game" from Doyle, who had "his best game in two years here. (He) played with (the) confidence we've wanted him to have since he stepped on campus". Gray said he hoped that confidence would linger as the season progresses.
 
Doyle and Cowart, Jr., both scored 14 points in the game to lead all scorers. Sikes, who has scored in double digits each game this season, picked up 12 points and nine rebounds while Hawthorne recorded 10.
 
The Bears hit 31 of 38 free throws.
 
Jaquan Dotson and Tonzell Handy both scored 11 points to lead East Central. The visitors made good on 20 of 25 free throws.
 
The Bears will now take time off for the Christmas/New Year's holidays before returning to action on January 7 when they travel to Baton Rouge Community College.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Mario Doyle

#3 Mario Doyle

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Antonio Cowart, Jr.

#4 Antonio Cowart, Jr.

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Mario Doyle

#3 Mario Doyle

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Antonio Cowart, Jr.

#4 Antonio Cowart, Jr.

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G