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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears get big win over visiting Hinds, 74-66

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

Men's Basketball | 1/26/2017 11:27:00 PM

BOX SCORE

Bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss Monday night, the Bears returned to their winning ways Thursday night with a huge 74-66 win over the visiting Hinds Bulldogs.
 
The win moved the Bears to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the MACJC's South Division. Hinds fell to 9-6 and 1-5.
 
The game was nip and tuck from the start with 11 lead changes and five ties in the first half. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the half, 14-10, with 12:42 on the clock while the Bears' biggest advantage of the first 20:00, 30-25, came with 0:25 on the clock. The Bears then led by the same five-point margin, 37-32, at the break.
 
A James Hawthorne layup with 18:58 left in the game put the Bears on top 34-27. They then took their biggest lead of the night, 43-34, on Emanuel Thompson's bucket with 15:25 to go.
 
Going on a 14-2 run, the Bulldogs came roaring back to take a 48-45 lead with 11:23 on the clock.
 
Trailing 57-55, the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 11-5 and regained the lead, 66-62, on Rodrick Sikes' jumper with 3:14 to go.
 
After Hinds made the score 66-64, the Bears scored eight of the final 10 points in the game to capture the eight-point win.
 
Getting the win was "huge," said Bears head coach Thomas Gray. "This was as important a game as we've played all season. I was really proud of the way our guys fought. There were a couple of times our guys could have tapped out, thrown in the towel."
 
"We got up (by) nine and they (Hinds) came back made some big shots and took the lead. I was proud of the way our guys fought through (that), making the most out of the opportunities that were presented to them. We're very fortunate we came (away) with this win."
 
Sikes led all scorers with 31 points while also pulling down eight rebounds Thompson was also in double figures with 11 points. The Bears went 24-30 from the free throw line.
 
Deangelo Ballard topped the Hinds offense with 24 points. The visitors made 10 of 15 free throws.
 
The Bears host the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs on January 30 to end the first half of Division action. The game is set to get underway at 7:15.
 
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Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

G/F
6' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

James Hawthorne

#2 James Hawthorne

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

6' 4"
Sophomore
G/F