Tuesday's game was one that the Bears had marked on their calendars for quite some time. Not only did the game against Northwest Mississippi mark the final regular season contest, but it was also Sophomore Night for three Bear players and a student assistant.
 
And as a team, the Bears made sure to help those sophomores have a positive end to their final regular season game at Southwest by picking up a 103-93 win over the Rangers.
 
"We obviously play pretty well offensively, shot the ball really well and made 12 3's," Southwest head coach Corey Schmidt said. "We really moved the ball well and followed the game plan on that side of the floor."
 
Spreading the ball around especially beyond the perimeter was part of the game plan for the Bears (16-10, 9-5 MACCC) against the Rangers. As a result, Southwest tied a season high in points with 27 of them coming from Mark Drone who not only found success from long range but also several isolation plays blowing past his defender en route to the basket.
 
"I just went into the game wanting to play our regular game. I didn't try to push too much, just let it come to me," he said.
 
Early on, the Bears found themselves trailing the Rangers for just over the first 8:00 of the game. The turning point came at the 11:19 mark when Drone scored back-to-back baskets putting Southwest ahead 19-16. His makes were quickly followed by a 3-pointer from Blake Hart as the freshmen shined in the early stages of the game.
 
The Bears maintained their lead as they got a 3-pointer and free throws from Drone not long afterward. Around the 7:50 mark, Deon Brown joined the fray with a long-distance make of his own followed by a fast break layup putting Southwest up 32-24.
 
Drone and Brown then scored the next nine Bear points with the latter connecting on two 3-pointers during the run, the second of which came with around 5:25 to go until halftime.
 
But the scrappy Rangers fought back to pull within striking distance. The Bears led by as many as 14 in the first half but their advantage shrunk to just six at the half at 48-42.
 
In the second half, sophomore Javius Moore stepped up as the third-year player wanted to help deliver a win in his final regular season game as a Bear. The McComb High-alum scored the first basket of the second half before nailing a 3-pointer a few minutes later, giving Southwest a 59-51 lead.
 
However, Northwest showed fight once again slowly reducing the Southwest lead down before drawing even at 70 at the 10:27 mark. Not long afterward, the Rangers took their first lead since early in the contest but the Bears did not hit the panic button. They stuck with their game plan and it not only resulted in them re-taking the lead a few moments later, but maintaining it.
 
Part of that resurgence came from Moore who followed through with a successful three-point play at the 9:39 mark helping to set the tone for the Bears.
 
"I just had to be more aggressive," said Moore who talked about changes he made at halftime. "Just be aggressive, be myself and I knew that the easy baskets would come."
 
The Rangers flirted with taking the lead once again pulling within two points at 79-77 but Southwest got free throws from Moore and fellow sophomore Joe Holloway to help keep the hosts ahead.
 
Down the stretch, baskets from Drone along with big 3-pointers from Hart and Jahshawne Joseph helped the Bears close out the Rangers for the win.
 
In addition to Drone's 27 points, Moore and Brown each poured in 16 and Hart 13.
 
Prior to the game, Moore, Holloway, Carson Simmons and student manager Johvoneis Sanders were recognized during Sophomore Night Ceremonies.
 
The Bears await results from the final regular season contests later in the week to determine who they will play in the playoffs early next week.