Daytona Beach, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman faced a tough challenge against conference-leading Southern, falling 69-59 to cap off their first weekend of SWAC competition, Monday night at Moore Gymnasium.
 
How It Happened
 
The Wildcats (3-12, 1-2 SWAC) kept pace with Southern (9-7, 4-0 SWAC) for much of the night, entering halftime with a 38-36 edge over the Jaguars.
 
Southern began to pull away after the half, pushing its lead to as much as ten with ten minutes in the game. With four minutes left, a jumper from Dylan Robertson pulled B-CU to within four, but the Jaguars pulled off six straight points to put the game out of reach.
 
Marcus Garrett led the Wildcats with 16 points. Kevin Davis and Collins Joseph followed in double digits with 14 and 12, respectively. Damani McEntire racked up eight rebounds and three blocks.
 
For Wildcats head coach Reggie Theus, Monday's shortcomings came down to playmaking down the stretch.
 
"As a coach, I try to create a framework where our guys can play their best basketball," Theus said. "They have to still go make plays. We have to continue to try to find the person who can step up for us in these games."
 
After B-CU's first full weekend of SWAC play, Theus has reason for optimism:
 
"Our guys play really hard," Theus said. "We've matched up with everybody. Whatever people were thinking about Bethune-Cookman before the season started – they don't think that anymore."
 
Game Notes

• The Wildcats made only one of 12 three-point attempts in the game, including zero of five shots in the second half.
• The Wildcats shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half, but only 26 percent after halftime.
• 23 of Southern's 69 points came on the fast break.
• B-CU scored 12 second-chance points in the game.
• The Wildcats got to the free throw line 18 times in the game, converting on 14 chances – 12 of those attempts came in the first half.  

 
Up Next
Next for the Wildcats, they face their first SWAC weekend on the road, beginning with a matchup at Mississippi Valley State, Saturday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. EST.
 
 
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