Bears Defeat Coyotes to Start New Year!
Saturday, January 25, 2025: Men's Basketball
Baton Rouge, LA
The Baton Rouge Bears kicked off the second half of the 2024-25 season at home in the Bonne Sante Wellness Center, facing off against the Coastal Alabama North Coyotes. Previously, the Bears had defeated the Coyotes 72-66 in November in Bay Minette, Alabama. This afternoon, the Bears showcased their skills on both the offensive and defensive ends, securing a victory with a final score of 69-56.
The Bears came out strong in the first half, quickly building an eleven-point lead at 17-6 with 13:29 remaining. They showed no signs of rust from the holiday break and played aggressively on both ends of the floor. The Bears' defensive strategy disrupted the Coyotes' offense, allowing the Bears to extend their lead to 16 points by halftime, with a score of 37-21.
At halftime, Coach Starks praised his team for their outstanding performance and encouraged them to maintain that effort in the second half. Although the Coyotes attempted to fight back, they could not overcome their first-half deficit. Ultimately, the Bears defeated the Coyotes 69-56.
Kialen Phillips led the Bears in scoring with a game-high 25 points and added 12 rebounds. For the Coyotes, Joshua Whitehurst led with 14 points. The Bears had two players score in double figures, while the Coyotes had three.
With this victory, the Bears improved their record to 6-7, while the Coyotes fell to 7-9 for the season. The Bears now lead the all-time series with 2 wins and 0 losses against the Coyotes.
Bears Highlights:
- Kialen Phillips led the Bears with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
- Chad Jones came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 8 rebounds.
- Cardez Norman added 9 points with 3 rebounds.
The Bears will continue their homestand when they face the Bulldogs from Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 6 PM.
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