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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears escape first round of region tourney with OT win over Baton Rouge

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

Men's Basketball | 3/9/2017 6:29:00 AM

Box Score

James Hawthorne's bucket with 0:01 on the clock helped the Bears escape the first round of the NJCAA Region 23 tournament with a 62-61 win over Baton Rouge Community College Wednesday night in Clinton.
 
The win moved the Bears (18-8) into the semifinal round Thursday night to face a familiar foe, the Jones County Bobcats. Baton Rouge, who had defeated the Bears twice during the regular season, ended the year at 16-8.
 
The first half Wednesday night was tight from start to finish, with five ties and five lead changes. A three pointer from Rodrick Sikes had the Bears on top 4-2 early in the contest. They took their biggest lead of the half, 9-6, on a Bryce Baker free throw with 12:20 on the clock.
 
With the Bears on top 18-16, Baton Rouge scored 16 of the next 25 points and took their biggest lead of the half, 32-25, on an Isaiah Boissard jumper with 2:26 left in the half. Mario Doyle laid the ball in the goal for the Bears with 0:01 before the half to send his team into the half with a 32-27 deficit.
 
After a Guy Johnson free throw pulled the Bears to within two 34-32 early in the second half, Baton Rouge scored nine of the next 13 points to extend their lead back to seven points, 43-36, with 12:08 on the clock.
 
Emanuel Thompson's short-range jumper, with 9:11 left in regulation, trimmed the Bears' deficit to 45-40. But, Baton Rouge would again respond, scoring seven of the next nine points to move out to their biggest lead of the game, 52-42, at the 6:02 mark.
 
Refusing to concede the game, the Bears went on a 10-0 run and tied the game at 52-52 on an Antonio Cowart, Jr., bucket with 2:24 showing.  Neither team was able to find the bottom of the net in the remaining time of regulation, forcing the extra time.
 
The Bears took a 58-54 lead with 1:17 left in overtime before Baton Rouge fought back to take a 61-60 lead with 0:09 on the clock. Hawthorne then found the ball in his hands with time running down and launched the game-winning shot.
 
"We are grateful for the opportunity to advance and play tomorrow (Thursday) night," said Bears head coach Thomas Gray. "That (game) was a defensive battle and I was proud of our guys for not getting down when their shots weren't going in."
 
"I'm (also) proud," Gray went on, "of how we rallied and came together in the second half. When we have that mindset of playing for one another, great things can happen."
 
Sikes topped the Bears with a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Thompson also scored in double figures with 10 points. The Bears made 22 of 40 free throws.
 
Baton Rouge was led by Bryan Polanco's 11 points. He and his teammates combined to hit 13 of 18 free throws.
 
The Bears and Bobcats tip things off at 7:30 Thursday night at Mississippi 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
Guy Johnson

#11 Guy Johnson

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

G/F
6' 4"
Sophomore
Bryce Baker

#23 Bryce Baker

G/F
6' 5"
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
Guy Johnson

#11 Guy Johnson

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Rodrick Sikes

#14 Rodrick Sikes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Emanuel Thompson

#21 Emanuel Thompson

6' 4"
Sophomore
G/F
Bryce Baker

#23 Bryce Baker

6' 5"
Sophomore
G/F