Bears cruise pass Bulldogs to advance in Region XXIII Tournament

Thursday, March 6, 2025: Men's Basketball
Perkinston, MS

As March arrives, it's officially Madness time for the Bears Basketball team. They kicked off the Region XXIII Tournament tonight with a match-up against the #8 seed Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs in the Dantzler Arena. The Bears were eager to avenge their last defeat against the Bulldogs, who had beaten them by two points (85-83) in Baton Rouge on January 9, 2025. Since that loss, the Bears have won 13 straight games, setting a new program record. Tonight, they opened the tournament strongly in the second half, ultimately defeating the Bulldogs 80-66.

The first ten minutes of the game saw a back-and-forth battle, with the teams tying seven times and experiencing eight lead changes. The Bulldogs employed a full-court press that disrupted the Bears' offensive flow. At the 10:06 mark, the score was tied at 17. The Bulldogs then scored four consecutive points, taking their largest lead of the first half at 21-17. The Bears narrowed the deficit to 27-26, thanks to a basket by sophomore guard Kialen Phillips at 4:52. They briefly took the lead on the next possession, 28-27, when Awak Machar was fouled and made one of two free throws. The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead with two free throws, bringing the score to 29-28 with four minutes remaining in the half. The Bears ended the half on an 8-4 run, going into halftime with a 37-33 lead. This late push was driven by Imran Deen and Courtney McCarthy, who scored six of the Bears' eight points.

The Bears opened the second half by handling the Bulldogs' press more effectively, resulting in success on the offensive end. In the first ten minutes of the second half, the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 22-9, building a seventeen-point lead. This surge was fueled by sophomore guards Courtney McCarthy and Kialen Phillips. The Bears shot 51% from the field in the second half, while the Bulldogs struggled at only 31%. The Bulldogs found it difficult to generate offense due to the Bears' intensified defensive pressure. The Bears secured their victory with a 14-point margin, winning 80-66 and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Game Highlights:
Courtney McCarthy led the Bears with a game-high 30 points.
Kialen Phillips contributed 23 points and 6 rebounds.
Awak Machar added 13 points.
Troy Joseph recorded 6 assists.

With this victory, the Bears improved to 20-9 and progressed in the Region XXIII Tournament, while the Bulldogs' season ended with a record of 17-12. The Bears extended their school-record winning streak to 14 games.

Next, the Bears will travel to Ellisville, Mississippi, on Monday, March 10, 2025, to face the #1 seed Jones College Bobcats in a quarterfinal rematch of last year's tournament. The tip-off is set for 7:00 PM in the A.B. Howard Gymnasium.

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