DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Ricky Johnson scored 22 points to lead five Bethune-Cookman players in double figures as the Wildcats downed Trinity Baptist 91-74 in their season opener Saturday afternoon in Historic Moore Gymnasium.
Maurice Taylor added 15 points, Clemmye Owens and Mikel Trapp 12 each and Allan Dempster 10 as the Wildcats won their opener for the first time since 2010. The 91 points were the most the Wildcats have scored in a season opener since November 28, 1980, when Bethune-Cookman beat Florida A&M 100-86.
Trinity Christian (0-3) led 17-12 with 10:58 remaining on a Darrius Jones three-pointer, but the Wildcats rallied to take the lead at 23-21 on two Malik Jackson free throws with 7:31 remaining and opened up a 42-33 halftime lead.
Taylor scored all of his points in the second half as Bethune-Cookman gradually pulled away, taking its biggest at 82-61 on a Johnson 3-pointer with 4:43 remaining.
Dempster's eight rebounds led B-CU's 52-25 advantage on the boards. Troy Simmons was the lone Wildcat who didn't score, but dished out seven assists.
Charles Cook had a game-high 24 for Trinity Baptist.
Bethune-Cookman plays at South Florida Tuesday. The game will air on ESPN3.
NOTES: Dempster's eight rebounds were a career high ... Trapp matched his career high with 12 points ... B-CU was 12 of 13 from the line in the second half ... This was Johnson's second 20 point game... The Wildcats have now won six straight home games dating back to last season.
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