Bobcats notch another win at home

By Osmara Valles

KTSW Sports Reporter

The Bobcats claimed another victory Saturday evening against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles with a final score of 60-55.

With only one day of rest before the game, the Bobcats had to shift gears and sharpen their skills on what they needed to improve on from their last game against South Alabama.

Numerous techniques were introduced throughout the game, and their defense was very “stingy” with the ball, according to head coach Terrence Johnson.

On the other side of the ball, the Golden Eagles showcased a dominant defense with three blocks in the first half. In terms of their offense, the leading advantage for them was their free throws with 80% accuracy.

Within the first half of the game, there was a feud between both teams, with one team taking the lead. The Bobcats successfully worked together offensively to get them ahead by just a few points.

The Bobcats maintained an 11-point lead in the first few minutes of the second half. With such a vigorous offensive force, the Golden Eagles’ defense was surely making a comeback.

The Golden Eagles had seven steals overall in the second half, and senior guard Austin Crowley was very crucial during this time of the game. Crowley finished as the leading scorer for the Golden Eagles, totaling 14 points and swiping four out of the seven-team steals.

Crowley was certainly a threat for the Bobcats during the second half, but that only fueled the Bobcats’ offense, helping maintain proper control of the ball.

Although the Golden Eagles scored a bit more than the Bobcats in the second half, the Bobcats wrapped up the game with their back-to-back win at Strahan Arena.

With such a close game like this, the Bobcats truly tested their skills and became more confident in their outlook for this team.

“We beat a good team, a well-coached team, a championship-level team with a championship-level culture,” said Johnson.

For the remainder of the season, the Bobcats must keep this momentum going to attain more wins.

The next basketball game for the Bobcats will be against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Strahan Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast live on KTSW 89.9 FM.