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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Dear's 31 powers Bears to win at Jones

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Damian Dear

Men's Basketball | 1/22/2020 12:12:00 AM

Behind the Southwest-career high 31 points from Damian Dear, the Bears withheld a strong challenge from the host Jones Bobcats to pick up a 75-67 MACJC South Division win Tuesday night.
 
A Dear layup and three pointer helped the Bears move out to an early 7-0 lead.
 
Jones then outscored the Bears 10-2 over 5:20 to take a 10-9 lead with 13:00 left in the first half. The Bears then went on a 16-0 run, capped by a Goodnews Kpegeol layup, to take a 25-10 lead with 8:53 on the clock.
 
An 11-4 run by Jones then cut the Bears' advantage to 31-23 with 3:26 remaining in the half. Outscoring Jones 10-5 the rest of the half, the Bears (9-5, 3-2) took a 41-28 lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
The Bears maintained their double-digit lead through most of the second half and were in front 50-36 with 12:46 left in the contest. But, Jones (10-3, 2-3) would not give up.
 
Outscoring the Bears 21-11 over an 8:06 span, Jones pulled to within 61-57 with 5:38 still to play. Kpegeol then effectively sealed the deal for the Bears as he scored seven straight points to put the Bears on top 67-57 with 4:39 left.
 
Jones would be unable to get any closer than eight points the rest of the way as the Bears left Ellisville with the win.
 
Bears head coach Bryan Bender said the win was "a big-time step in the right direction. We showed some tremendous focus and toughness from start to finish and controlled the game for 40 minutes."
 
"Damian showed out tonight," Bender continued, "and we took great shots from start to finish. Pearl River comes to town Thursday and I can't wait to see how we can clean up our mistakes and capitalize in front of our home crowd and hopefully get an upset."
 
Kpegeol also scored in double figures for the Bears, turning in 12 points. The Bears made good on 17 of 23 free throws.
 
Casey Smith topped the Jones offense with 16 points. He and his teammates went 9-13 at the free throw line.

The Bears game against Pearl River is set to tip off Thursday night at 7:15.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Damian Dear

#5 Damian Dear

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Goodnews Kpegeol

#12 Goodnews Kpegeol

G/F
6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Damian Dear

#5 Damian Dear

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Goodnews Kpegeol

#12 Goodnews Kpegeol

6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
G/F