Playing in their final test of the 2023 calendar year, the Bears held off a late Mississippi Delta rally on the road Saturday to walk away with an 88-80 win.
 
"I thought that our guys played well on the offensive end, we made 15 3's in today's game. We shot well, moved the ball well, played together, so I am really proud of the offensive effort," Southwest head coach Corey Schmidt said. "(There are) a couple of things that I'd like to clean up on the defensive end. We have to be a little more locked in."
 
The Bears (8-4) got it's 3-point game going early in the first 20:00 of play as four from Deon Brown were complemented by two from Jahshawne Joseph and one each from Blake Hart, Mark Drone, LeVionne Lindsey and Tylik Weeks. In addition, Week's got his post game clicking on all cylinders as well with four field goals for 11 of his 19 points in the first half.
 
Schmidt said that floor spacing was a big factor that helped the Bears against the Trojans.
 
"We talk about spacing all of the time and it is very, very important for our offense," Schmidt said. "I thought that our spacing and our ball movement and player movement was really, really good today, maybe some of our best so far."
 
Despite this, Delta stayed within striking distance. Southwest took a 42-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
In the second half, while Weeks continued his strong play from the inside and free throw line, Drone increased his intensity and level of play, contributing from all three facets offensively, whether it was 3-point range, at the free throw line or via a 2-point field goal. In the second half, he went a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, added three field goals and one 3-pointer. He finished with a team-high 23 points. 
 
The Bears also got two additional 3-pointers each from Hart and Brown to help keep Southwest ahead as they held off a late Delta rally and ran out the clock to seal the win.

Southwest returns to action on January 6, 2024 as they will be on the road to face Northwest Florida at 3 p.m.