Hoping to keep the momentum going as they continue to make a push for the playoffs, the Bears welcomed in Hinds Monday night. And even though they played a good brand of basketball, they could not pull it out in the end, falling 84-80 to the Bulldogs.
 
"I thought that in the second half, they made a few more plays than us, a few more shots and a few more defensive plays," Southwest head coach Corey Schmidt said. "When it comes down to who made more winning plays, I think that they made more plays tonight."
 
The Bears (15-10, 6-4 MACCC) fell behind early as the Bulldogs jumped ahead first and maintained their lead for the first 5:00 of the game. At about the halfway point of the first half, Southwest grabbed the lead as the combination of LeVionne Lindsey and Robert Flantroy shined.
 
Not long afterward, Fazl Oshodi got into the act, helping the Bears maintain a slim lead.
 
After Tylik Weeks made a couple of buckets, he was complemented by makes from Jaylen Haliburton and Lindsey with the latter's giving Southwest its biggest lead of the night at six at 31-25.
 
But right afterward, Hinds got into a groove and regained the lead. Both teams battled it out for the remainder of the half as the game was tied at 38 at the intermission.

Daylen Thomas splashed-in a 3-pointer at the 15:00 mark of the second half putting the Bears up 50-47 but the Bulldogs kept pace.
 
Southwest lost the lead with 8:25 to go as a Bulldog make started a 7-0 run for the visitors putting Southwest down 65-59.
 
But the Bears showed great fight staying within striking distance over the next several minutes.
 
With 2:10 to go and trailing by seven, the Bears got a spark. A Weeks three-point play was followed immediately by one from Flantroy pulling Southwest within one at 78-77. And with just over 1:00 to go, Oshodi tied the game at 80 with a 3-pointer.
 
Despite the resurgence, the Bulldogs, unfortunately got the last laugh, getting a couple of baskets in the final minute, preserving the win.
 
Weeks led Southwest with 25 points while Lindsey posted 23 and Flantroy 10.
 
The Bears will be on the road Thursday as they make the long drive north to Fulton to face Itawamba at 7:30 p.m.