Skip To Main Content

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears overcome Mississippi Delta, 79-73

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Bears vs. Miss. Delta Final

Men's Basketball | 1/6/2020 8:22:00 PM

The Bears opened the 2020 portion of their schedule Monday night with a nail-biting 79-73 win over visiting Mississippi Delta.
 
A pair of Damian Dear three pointers and Devin Evans layup gave the Bears to an early 8-0 lead. After a pair of ties, a Dear layup then began a 22-10 run by the Bears that gave them their largest lead of the half, 32-20, with 4:05 left in the half.
 
Mississippi Delta (7-5) then went on a 9-0 run to trim the Bears' lead to 32-29, with 2:00 on the clock.
 
The Bears (6-4) then outscored the visitors 7-0, with Xyshan Jenkins supplying the final two points, to send them into halftime with a 39-29 advantage.
 
The Bears seemed to take firm control of the game with 13:16 left in the second half when Spencer Rodgers nailed a trey to make the score 55-38.
 
However, Mississippi Delta would not go away that easily as they outscored the Bears 27-9 over the next 8:26 to take their first lead of the game, 65-54, with 4:42 still to play.
 
The teams then traded leads three times and were tied three times before an old-fashioned three-point play by Dear put the Bears up for good, 75-72, with 1:59 left.
 
Two Dear free throws and a layup then provided the Bears with their final margin of victory.
 
"Basketball is a game of runs and both teams made multiple runs," said Bears head coach Bryan Bender. "But, we were able to make some free throws and get a couple of crucial stops down the stretch."
 
"Damian Dear just took over the game," Bender continued. "They couldn't guard him off the bounce. He made his free throws (and) he played a lot better defensively tonight (and) we were able to tough out a win."
 
Dear led all scorers in the game with 25 points. Rodgers and Jenkins were both also in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Bears hit 21 of 36 free throws.
 
Latrell Carter led Mississippi Delta with 20 points. He and his teammates made good on 12 of 18 free throws.
 
The Bears hit the road for their next contest, and resume MACJC South Division action, when they visit Meridian Community College Thursday night for a 7:30 matchup.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Damian Dear

#5 Damian Dear

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Devin Evans

#1 Devin Evans

F
6' 9"
Freshman
Xyshan Jenkins

#21 Xyshan Jenkins

G/F
6' 6"
Freshman
Spencer Rodgers

#22 Spencer Rodgers

G
6' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Damian Dear

#5 Damian Dear

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Devin Evans

#1 Devin Evans

6' 9"
Freshman
F
Xyshan Jenkins

#21 Xyshan Jenkins

6' 6"
Freshman
G/F
Spencer Rodgers

#22 Spencer Rodgers

6' 4"
Sophomore
G