Bears struggle to contain High Powered Offense of Bishop State

Friday, December 20, 2024: Men's Basketball

Mobile, AL

The Baton Rouge Bears concluded the first half of the season and participated in the Mardi Gras Tournament against the Bishop State Community College Wildcats this evening at the Fredericka G Cultural Center. The Bears struggled to contain the Wildcats' high-powered offense, ultimately falling 85 to 59.

The Bears got on the scoreboard first with a jumper by sophomore guard Kialen Phillips, taking an early lead. However, the Wildcats quickly responded, converting a three-point play and hitting a three-pointer to pull ahead 6-2. Kialen Phillips and McKennis Savoie scored the first ten points for the Bears, and with 15:40 remaining in the half, the Bears trailed the Wildcats 10-8. The Bears managed to stay competitive, narrowing the gap to 27-24 after another jumper from Phillips with 5:32 left in the half. Unfortunately, the Wildcats closed the half on an 18-9 run, taking a 12-point advantage into the break at 45-33.

In the second half, the Bears continued to struggle against the Wildcats' offensive onslaught while finding it difficult to score themselves. The Wildcats outscored the Bears 40-26 in the second half, finishing with an 85 to 59 victory.

Kedar Bodie and Jordan Moore combined for an impressive 53 points for the Wildcats, scoring 28 and 25 points, respectively. McKennis Savoie led the Bears with 18 points, while Kialen Phillips added 16 points and 8 rebounds.

With this loss, the Bears finished the first half of the season with a 5-7 record, while the Wildcats improved to 11-3. This win allowed Bishop State to break the tie in their all-time series, leading 3 wins to 2 losses over Baton Rouge.

Bears Highlights:
 McKennis Savoie led all Bears with 18 points and 2 steals.
 Kialen Phillips scored 16 points, with 8 rebounds.
 Cardez Norman added 7 points.
 Christian Myers grabbed 7 rebounds.

The Bears will take a break to enjoy the holidays and will return to the court on Saturday, January 4, when the Coastal Alabama North Coyotes visit the Bears Den. The tip-off is set for 4 PM.

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