PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball closed out the home portion of the 2025 slate hosting Brewton-Parker College for senior day on Saturday. The Firehawks and Barons duked it out until the final horn with the Firehawks winning by three, 79-76. UTS improved to 11-14 overall and 8-8 in league play. The Firehawks are in great position to advance to the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament held in Montgomery, Ala., in two weeks.  
UTS honored four seniors before the game: Koby Issac, Tyler Dudley, Mark Vance, and Aydan Yates. Zaiden Cross led all scorers with with 20 points and eight boards. Vance added 18 points. Isaac scored 16 points. Vito Vujovic tossed in and 10 rebounds.
The Firehawks and Barons passed the lead four times in the opening half. UT Southern fell behind early and rallied back to take tie the game at 15 just before the first media time out. Over the next two possessions, the Barons extended out to lead 20-15 half way through the half. Big shots by Cross and a lead taking triple from Isaac put the Firehawks on top 24-23 with six minutes to go. The Firehawks shooting cooled off in heading to the half trailing 36-30 at the break. UT Southern shot 12-35 for 34 percent and only connected on three trifectas. Isaac led the Firehawks with nine first half points knocking down four of seven shots.
UTS came out of the locker room swinging, retaking the lead with 15 minutes to play. The Firehawks knocked down six of seven shots to begin the half with a 15-8 run. Over the next four minutes the turnovers and missed shots held the Firehawks back as they trailed by six with 11 minutes to go. The visitors held the Firehawks to play in arrears until the final five minutes. Vance streaked to the bucket giving UTS 67-66 lead. With over a minute to go, BPC retook the lead in the tight game, leading 74-72. After a pair of Vance free throws, Cross beat his defender and gave the Firehawks a lead they held for the rest of the game. BPC had a shot in the air trailing by three, but UTS held on to win.
BY THE NUMBERS
44.4 – UTS shot 28-63 for 44.4 percent out shot by the Barons' 26-58 (44.8%).
6 – UTS drained six triples, one less than BPC
17 – UTS connected on 17 of 21 free throws, same as the Barons.
42 – The Firehawks dominated the boards pulling down 42 rebounds in the game, 13 more than the Barons.
14 – UTS committed 14 turnovers in the game, two more than BPC.
40 – UTS led in points in the paint 40-36.
 
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will close out the regular season with a crucial SSAC match up with Blue Mountain Christian next Saturday. The dual is set for two p.m. at Tyler Gymnasium. UTS defeated the Toppers on January 4, 67-62.
 
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