Southwest Mississippi’s men’s basketball team defeated the Northwest Rangers 125-92 Monday night at home. The Bears, who faced a Rangers team averaging 99 points per game, led from early in the game and never looked back.
The game was close in the opening minutes before Southwest began to pull away. A three-pointer by Chidi Nwosu and a slam by Leano Rolle sparked an 11-2 run, giving the Bears an early lead. They extended their advantage to 30-17 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
By the end of the first half, Southwest held a 59-40 lead. The Bears’ offense continued to excel after halftime, with back-to-back three-pointers by Courterius Scott and Leano Rolle pushing their lead over 20 points. Key plays, including a slam by Robert Flantroy II and a lob from Jay Kennedy to Jon Jackson, helped the Bears reach 119 points in the game.
Six players scored in double figures for Southwest, led by Scott with 24 points and Rolle with 23. Brian Foxworth added 17 points, his season high, and Cy Merrett contributed 16. Chidi Nwosu scored 14, and Flantroy finished with 12 points.
The team shot 65% from beyond the arc, making 15 three-pointers. Rolle made four, while Scott and Kennedy each hit three. The Bears also went 17 for 23 at the free throw line. Head coach Corey Schmidt praised his team’s execution, noting that they limited the Rangers to below their season average.
Southwest now stands at 13-13 overall and 7-3 in conference play. The Bears will travel to face Co-Lin on Thursday, February 19, in their next game.
