Courterius Scott scored 32 points, including five three-pointers and clutch free throws down the stretch, to lead Southwest Mississippi’s men’s basketball team to an 86-80 victory over Holmes Community College on Monday night.
The Bears jumped out to an early 13-5 lead in the first five minutes, fueled by three-pointers from Robert Flantroy II, Chidi Nwosu, and Scott. A slam dunk from Cy Merrett energized the home crowd and set the tone for Southwest’s dominance on both ends of the court. A three-pointer from Scott pushed the lead to 23-11 as Holmes struggled to get their offense going.
Southwest maintained a double-digit lead by halftime, 40-28, after Scott closed the half with another three-pointer and a layup from Andre Ngomabie. Scott continued his scoring surge in the second half, connecting on two more three-pointers within the first six minutes. The Bears played disciplined basketball, managing their lead with smart defense and timely free throws.
In the final six minutes, Southwest went 13-for-14 at the free-throw line, sealing the win. Scott made his last five free throws, bringing his total points to 32 and marking his fifth game this season with 30 or more points. He finished the night shooting 7-for-8 from the free-throw line and making five three-pointers.
Leano Rolle contributed 18 points on 10-for-12 shooting at the line, while Cy Merrett added 12 for the Bears. Head coach Corey Schmidt praised his team’s focus amid the emotional ups and downs of the game. “We always say ‘What’s next?’ and focus on the next possession,” Schmidt said. “It’s about how you respond and lock back in.” Southwest Mississippi (10-11, 4-1 in conference) will play at Itawamba Community College on Thursday in Fulton.
