Southwest Mississippi’s men’s basketball team edged Pearl River 63-59 Monday at home in a game that saw a dramatic finish. Chidi Nwosu led the Bears with 21 points and 12 rebounds, recording a double-double.
The game started with Nwosu hitting a three-pointer for the opening score. Leano Rolle then assisted Cy Merrett on a slam dunk that energized the home crowd. The first half featured six lead changes, including a Jay Kennedy three that put the Bears ahead 21-20. Pearl River scored in the final seconds of the half to take a 27-23 advantage at halftime.
Early in the second half, Courterius Scott opened with a three for Southwest. The Bears briefly took the lead after a Rolle three, but Pearl River regained control, holding the lead for over 17 minutes. The game remained close, with both teams trading baskets and staying within a few points.
Foul trouble for Pearl River allowed Southwest to make eight free throws in the final 4 minutes and 47 seconds, including four from Andre Ngomabie. Scott tied the game at 57 with 2:32 remaining, then gave the Bears a 59-57 lead with two free throws with 1:43 left. Pearl River responded to tie at 59-59, but Scott’s pull-up jumper put Southwest ahead 61-59 with a minute remaining. A final free throw by Scott with five seconds left sealed the victory, 63-59.
The Bears improve to 14-14 overall and 8-4 in conference play. They will travel to Meridian Community College on Thursday, February 26, for their next game. Head coach Corey Schmidt praised his team’s resilience after the game, noting their ability to stay composed despite a tough offensive outing.
