Southern defeats Bethune 73-77
Southern Edges Bethune in Thrilling 4-Point Comeback Victory
In a highly competitive conference matchup, Southern (away) edged Bethune (home) 77-73 on Tuesday night at Moore Gymnasium (FL). The visiting team's dramatic comeback from an 8-point deficit with just over 10 minutes remaining proved to be the difference-maker in this thrilling contest.
Trailing by 11 points at halftime, Southern began the second half on a 12-2 run, fueled by the hot shooting of Malek Abdelgowad. The senior forward's 14 first-half points had already set the tone for the evening, and his continued production helped propel Southern to life in the second half.
Abdelgowad finished with an impressive 21 points, complemented by 18 rebounds and 2 assists. His dominance on both ends of the floor was a key factor in Southern's comeback victory.
In contrast, Bethune struggled to contain Abdelgowad, allowing him to exploit mismatches and score efficiently. The senior forward's performance marked a turning point in the game, as Southern began to capitalize on Bethune's defensive lapses.
Jakobi Heady led Bethune with 21 points, but it was not enough to overcome the surging visitors. Quentin Heady chipped in with 8 rebounds and 17 points, while Doctor Bradley provided 6 assists and 5 rebounds off the bench.
The advanced statistics paint a picture of a closely contested game. Southern shot 38% from the field, including 31% from three-point range, while Bethune struggled to find its mark at 46%. The visitors also outrebounded the home team by 4, grabbing 41 boards compared to Bethune's 37.
The largest lead in the game was held by Bethune, which took a 11-point advantage with just over 5 minutes remaining. However, Southern's Abdelgowad and company refused to back down, employing a series of relentless fast breaks and outside shots to whittle away at the deficit.
In the end, it was Abdelgowad who proved to be the difference-maker, scoring the go-ahead basket with 1:30 remaining on a layup over Quentin Heady. Southern's defense then stiffened, holding Bethune to just one field goal in the final minute and securing the 4-point victory.
The win marked Southern's first conference triumph of the season, while Bethune fell to 2-5 in league play. The result was a dramatic testament to the resilience and determination of both teams, as they battled it out in a back-and-forth contest that will be remembered for weeks to come.