Bethune-Cookman's strong second-half performance propelled them to a 79-63 victory over Mississippi Valley State at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. The Wildcats outscored the Delta Devils 45-33 in the final 20 minutes, building on their 4-point halftime lead. Jakobi Heady led the charge for Bethune-Cookman, scoring 23 points and grabbing 5 rebounds, while Tyler Andrews added 19 points to the winning effort.
Mississippi Valley State's Michael James had a game-high 34 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Bethune-Cookman. The Delta Devils trailed by just 4 points at halftime, 34-30, but the Wildcats' offense caught fire in the second half, shooting 51% from the field. James' impressive scoring display was complemented by Patrick Punch's 10 points, but the rest of the team struggled to find their rhythm.
The game was marked by a series of runs, with Bethune-Cookman using a 10-2 spurt midway through the second half to take control. Mississippi Valley State tried to mount a comeback, but the Wildcats' defense held strong, limiting the Delta Devils to just 33% shooting from beyond the arc. Jordan Johnson chipped in with 9 points for Bethune-Cookman, helping to seal the win.
The victory improves Bethune-Cookman's record to 9-11, while Mississippi Valley State falls to 1-19. Although this matchup was not expected to be a closely contested game, given the significant difference in the teams' net rankings, Bethune-Cookman's performance was still impressive. The Wildcats' ability to put together a complete game, with strong performances on both ends of the floor, bodes well for their future prospects.
This result will be viewed as a Quadrant 4 win for Bethune-Cookman, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume, but it does help to pad their win total. For Mississippi Valley State, the loss is another Quadrant 4 defeat, which will do little to improve their standing. As the season wears on, the Delta Devils must find ways to be more competitive against teams like Bethune-Cookman if they hope to make a push for a better conference finish.
The win for Bethune-Cookman is a positive step forward, but it will not drastically alter their tournament chances. They must continue to accumulate wins, particularly against stronger opponents, to make a serious case for a postseason berth. For now, the Wildcats can take pride in their dominant performance over Mississippi Valley State, and look to build on this momentum as they move forward in their schedule.