UTICA — The loss to Bishop State back on December 12 seems like its even more of a distant memory now for the Bears as they pulled out a tough 79-73 win Thursday at Hinds. The game not only marked the final non-conference game of the season for Southwest but also a third-consecutive victory.
 
"I think that we got a little bit tougher and a little more locked in," said Southwest head coach Corey Schmidt talking about the final 5:00 of the game. "We went a stretch where we weren't scoring well offensively and that starts with me and how I was getting them organized. We let that get them out in transition and give them the energy. There was a stretch where they played harder than us but we locked back in and remained focus."
 
The trio of LeVionne Lindsey, Tylik Week and Fazl Oshodi helped get the Bears (9-6) going on the offensive end as Southwest jumped out to an 11-7 lead just over four and a half minutes in.
 
Not long afterward, Jaylen Haliburton joined the fray with a 3-pointer followed by a three-point play. The latter of the two scores sparked a 12-2 run growing the Bear lead to 14 at 27-13.
 
Towards the tail end of the first half, the Bulldogs narrowed the gap as Southwest took a 40-31 lead at the half.
 
Unfortunately for Southwest, the rally spilled over into the early stages of the second half. Hinds pulled within two at 43-41 and took its first lead of the game at the 14:20 mark at 50-48. The deficit unfortunately grew for Southwest to as much as six with about 11:00 to go.
 
But the Bears found more of the same magic that they displayed earlier as Lindsey helped spark the comeback for Southwest.
 
"I was just getting to my spots," he said. "I feel like nobody can guard me 1-on-1."
 
Oshodi, Josh Schonback and Daylen Thomas followed suit not long afterward before Robert Flantroy nailed a big 3-pointer with 4:38 to go giving the Bears the lead once again at 67-66.
 
After the Bulldogs battled back to jump back ahead, the Bears got back-to-back makes from Weeks and Hami Ndiaye to grab the upper hand once again. From there, Southwest played tough defense while getting key scores down the stretch, preserving the win.
 
Lindsey led the Bears with 22 points while Weeks and Haliburton poured in 12 each.
 
Southwest opens MACCC Conference play on Thursday at 7:30 visiting Co-Lin.