Bears drop conference opener to the Dolphins in New Orleans

Wednesday January 31, 2024

New Orleans, LA: Men's Basketball

The Baton Rouge Bears traveled to New Orleans to start conference play against the Delgado Dolphins, this evening, in the Michael Williamson Center. The game would be an exciting back and forth affair between the Bears and the Dolphins, but the Dolphins would pull away late to earn the 67 to 62 conference victory.

The first eight minutes of the ballgame was a back-and-forth affair between the Bears and the Dolphins. In that time span, the game saw five ties and seven lead changes. The Dolphins would go on a 21 to 9 run over the next eight minutes to grab their largest lead of the game, twelve points: 33-21 with 4:18 remaining in the half. The Bears would continue to battle as they would pull within nine at the half. The Dolphins led the Bears 40-31 at the half.

In the second half, the Bears would come out of the lock room on fire as they would use the first eight minutes of the game to go on a 14-7 run to tie the game at 47 with 11:45 remaining. During that time span the Bears were aggressive in their defensive pressure which forced the Dolphins out of rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. The Bears would tie the game when Jaylen Streeter would steal the ball at midcourt and pass it to Jarrell Love for a layup; 47-47 with 11:40 remaining. Jaylen Streeter will covert a layup to give the Bears a 49 to 47 lead with 10:29 remaining. The Bears and the Dolphins would trade buckets and the lead over the next six minutes. The Dolphins would make two free throws to give them a one-point lead 59-58 with 3:16 remaining. The Bears would pull within one; 61-60 with 45.2 seconds remaining when Rayniel Wright would put back a Kailen Phillips miss. That would be as close as the Bears would get as the Dolphins would close out the game on a 6-2 run to seal the 67 to 62 conference victory.

The Bears were led in scoring by Kialen Phillips with 15 points. The Dolphins were led in scoring by Nomar Dijol with 20 points. The Dolphins had three student athletes score in double figures.

With the loss the Bears fell to 9-11, 0-1 while the Dolphins improved to 7-14, 1-0 on the season. Baton Rouge still leads the all-time series record with 28 wins and 15 losses over Delgado.

Bears Highlights

Kialen Phillips led the Bears with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Jarrell Love and Dashaunte Cormier-Bellard each scored 8 points.

Seviuhn Turner added 7 points and 5 rebounds.

LCCAC Standing (as of 1/31/24)

Delgado 1-0

Baton Rouge 0-1

Southern Shreveport 0-0

The Bears will be back in action this Saturday February 3, 2024, as they host the Southern University Shreveport Port City Jags in the Bears Den at 4 pm.

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