PULASKI, Tenn. – The WCU men's basketball team bounced back from a slow start to secure a thrilling 65-62 victory over UT-Southern.
 
"This was a battle for 40 minutes and I was proud for our guys and their perseverance down the stretch," said Head Coach Steve Knight. "We kept battling and finally were able to make some clutch shots at the right moment. Our effort on defense the second half limiting them to 25 points and 35% from the floor was the difference. It was a tough fought SSAC game as expected. Our guys continue to pull together when most needed and showed a lot of heart."
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening minutes, with a combined total of only 24 points scored in the first eight minutes. The Crusaders and Firehawks exchanged baskets in a tightly contested first half, but UT-Southern managed to close the period strong with four consecutive points, taking a 37-33 lead into halftime.
 
The second half began similarly for WCU, as they faced continued offensive challenges, allowing UT-Southern to expand their lead to 45-35 within the first five minutes. However, WCU gradually found their rhythm. Fueled by three straight free throws and consecutive layups from Makeem Roberts, Dominic Simpkins, and Javeon Gordon, they narrowed the gap to just one point at 45-44 with under 12 minutes remaining.
 
At the eight-minute mark, Randarius Hughes hit a layup to tie the game at 48. The Firehawks quickly responded with five unanswered points, but WCU countered with a crucial three-pointer from Jamar Jenkins, putting the Crusaders ahead 55-53 with six minutes left to play.
 
In the final minutes, both teams fought fiercely to gain the upper hand. It was WCU that ultimately found the spark they needed. On a crucial defensive possession, the Crusaders forced two missed shots and a turnover, leading to a three-pointer by Malik Franklin that extended their lead to 63-59. On the Firehawks' next possession, Roberts stepped up defensively, forcing another turnover that resulted in a pair of free throws to push the Crusader lead to six, sealing the victory for WCU.
 
Makeem Roberts led the Crusaders with 18 points, while Malik Franklin contributed 12 points. Javeon Gordon added 10 points, and Randarius Hughes dominated on the boards with 10 rebounds.
 
WCU will return to action on Saturday, December 6, continuing their road swing against Blue Mountain Christian, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 PM.