by Michael D. Gunnell

Southwest Sports Information 

The Bears began the 2019 portion of their schedule the way the ended 2018 as they traveled to Baton Rouge Community College Saturday evening and returned home with an 81-69 victory.

With the win, the Bears moved to 8-1 on the season. BRCC dropped to 1-12.

The first half was tight from start to finish with six ties and neither team holding greater than a six-point lead. An Atticus Taylor three pointer helped the Bears take a 34-33 lead into intermission.

The Bears scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 42-33 lead with 17:36 left to play. A layup from Lincoln Smith, with 11:36 to go, pushed the Bears lead to 53-40.

BRCC then outscored the Bears 12-4 to trim the Bears' lead to 57-52 with 7:24 showing on the clock.

But, the Bears would not be denied as Damian Dear, Jay Malone and Smith propelled them to an 18-5 scoring spree and a 75-55 lead with 2:32 to go. They then went on to claim the 12-point win.

"We looked like we were still on winter vacation in the first half," said Bears head coach Bryan Bender, "but, it was great to get back together on the floor and compete against someone else again."

"That was our fifth straight road game," Bender continued, "and it's never easy to win on the road. But, we had some big plays by Atticus in the first half and freshman Roderick Smith and Damian in the second half."

Dear and Taylor both scored 17 points to top the Bears' offense. Malone and Lincoln Smith both netted 12 points. The Bears went 4-9 at the free throw line.

BRCC's Brenden Vessel led all scorers with 18 points. He and his teammates combined to make 14 of 20 free throws.

The Bears make their first home appearance of 2019 on Monday when they host Mississippi Delta. Starting time for the contest has been moved to 4:45.