Southwest Mississippi’s men’s basketball team lost 83-56 on the road to the East Mississippi Lions Thursday night. The Bears struggled early, scoring only two points in the first six minutes and falling behind 8-2. The Lions built a 25-11 lead, which grew to a 46-24 advantage at halftime.
East Mississippi continued its momentum in the second half, opening with two quick baskets. The Bears managed to add some points but remained behind. The Lions’ three-point shooting was particularly effective, pushing their lead to 67-40 with 10 minutes, 17 seconds remaining.
Brian Foxworth sparked a late rally for Southwest Mississippi, hitting three consecutive baskets in the final minutes. Despite the effort, the Bears could not close the gap. Foxworth finished with 13 points, and Courterius Scott added eight. The loss drops Southwest Mississippi to 3-1 in conference play and 9-11 overall.
Head coach Corey Schmidt cited the team’s struggles in shooting, free throws, defense, and overall mindset. “We just weren’t good enough tonight in any phase of the game,” Schmidt said. “We got off to a slow start offensively, missing some shots we normally make and some free throws. Then we let that get in our heads and take us out of our game.”
Schmidt emphasized the need for the team to be mentally tougher and to return to the fundamentals that fueled their recent winning streak. The Bears will look to bounce back Monday at home against Holmes Community College.
