Skip To Main Content

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Cy Merrett
Chuck Barnes

Bears come up short against 20th-ranked Panola

Box Score A late rally fell just short for the homestanding Bears Tuesday night as they gave the 20th-ranked Panola College Ponies all they could handle in a 75-73 loss.

The Bears took a 2-0 lead on Cy Merrett's bucket less than 30 seconds into the contest. The teams then traded baskets for the next several minutes before a pair of Courterius Scott free throws gave the Bears their biggest lead of the night at 12-6 with 15:10 showing on the clock.

The lead changed hands several times over the next few minutes before the Ponies took their biggest advantage of the half, 36-30, with 2:52 to play in the half. They then went on to hold a 38-36 edge at the end of the half.

A Chidi Nwosu trey early in the second half helped the Bears take a 43-42 lead with 16:27 still to play.

Later, with the teams tied at 45-45, the Ponies outscored the Bears 26-13 to take a seemingly unsurmountable lead, 71-58, with only 5:15 left on the clock.

The Bears (2-2), however, refused to go quietly. Going on a 13-2 run, capped by a Scott basket with 0:41.4 on the clock, they pulled to within a pair, 73-71.

After a pair of Panola free throws, Merrett nailed a two-pointer at the buzzer, but it was too late as the visitors held on for the win.

Merrett led the Bears' offense with 28 points. Scott was also in double figures with 16 points. The Bears hit 14 of 20 free throws.

After the game, Bears' head coach Corey Schmidt said "It was just a frustrating loss. I didn't think we played well or together enough on the offensive end. Then, they (Panola) were a little too comfortable from three-point range, hitting double-digits (10)."

"We just have to attack our improvement", Schmidt concluded, "and we have short turnaround to get ready for Thursday."

The Bears return to action Thursday night at home when they host the Pensacola State Pirates. Tipoff is set for 6:00.
 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories