Bears Basketball kicked off the New Year with a victory over the John Melvin Mohawks.

Saturday, January 3, 2026: Men's Basketball 

Baton Rouge, LA

The Baton Rouge Bears basketball team opened the New Year at home this afternoon, facing off against the John Melvin University Mohawks from Pensacola. The Bears pulled away late to secure an 84-68 victory at the Bonne Sante Wellness Center.

The Bears kicked off the game strong, jumping to an 11-1 lead within the first 16 minutes. This early run was led by Nicholas Womack, Bryce Coleman, Tyrael Cage-Heke, and Trey Hawkins III. Continuing their offensive success, the Bears maintained a fourteen-point lead midway through the first half. Their offensive strategies involved every player, and their defensive pressure kept the Mohawks off balance. However, the Mohawks found some momentum late in the first half, going on an 18-8 run to narrow the gap to four points by halftime, with a score of 38-34.

The Mohawks came out strong in the second half, quickly taking the lead when Gavin Faure converted an 'and-one' play with 19:08 remaining, making the score 39-38. The two teams traded baskets and the lead over the next seven minutes. With eight minutes left, the Bears held onto a slim two-point lead at 60-58. The Bears then finished the game strong, going on a 24-10 run to secure the victory. This late surge was fueled by aggressive defense, improved rebounding, and offensive contributions from Noah Whitehead, Kentrell Freeman, and Nicholas Womack.

Noah Whitehead led the Bears with 20 points, while the team had four players in double figures: Whitehead, Womack, Tyrael Cage-Heke, and Kentrell Freeman. Gavin Faure led the Mohawks with a game-high 26 points, and the Mohawks had three players in double figures: Faure, Camplin, and Casler.

With this victory, the Bears improved to 7-9 on the season and are now 1-0 against the John Melvin University Mohawks from Pensacola, Florida.

Bears Highlights

- Noah Whitehead: 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench 

- Nicholas Womack: 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists 

- Tyrael Cage-Heke: 15 points and 7 rebounds 

- Kentrell Freeman: 13 points and 7 rebounds off the bench 

Up Next:

The Bears will continue their mini homestand against the Hinds Community College Bulldogs this Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The tip-off is set for 6 PM at the Bonne Sante Wellness Center on the BRCC MidCity Campus.

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