MARIETTA, Ga. – UT Southern wrapped up its road swing Saturday afternoon with an 81–64 setback at Life University, with statistics delayed following the game due to a PrestoStats system crash.
The Firehawks found themselves playing from behind early, as a slow shooting start allowed Life to open the game on a run. UT Southern struggled to find a rhythm offensively in the opening minutes, but Antonio Cochran provided an early spark by knocking down a three-pointer and battling on the glass to generate second-chance opportunities. Despite the push, UT Southern trailed 38–23 at the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Firehawks showed renewed energy on both ends of the floor. Cochran opened the second half with another triple, while Jack Harper and Luke Lentz helped stretch the floor as UT Southern looked to chip away at the deficit. Lentz was particularly effective off the bench, connecting from deep and attacking the lane to keep the Firehawks within striking distance.
Midway through the half, UT Southern put together its best stretch of the afternoon, sparked by defensive pressure that led to transition opportunities. Mike Bell, Jr. finished through contact in the paint, and Eric Robinson added key assists to keep the offense flowing. Cochran continued to lead by example, scoring at all three levels while pulling down rebounds on the defensive end.
Despite the second-half surge, UT Southern was unable to fully close the gap, as Life answered each run. The Firehawks outscored Life 41–43 after the break, showing resilience and improved efficiency, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Cochran led UT Southern with 12 points and eight rebounds, adding three assists. Lentz paced the Firehawks off the bench with 15 points, while Kiah Key contributed 10 points. Baldwin, Bell, Jr., and Robinson each added seven or more points as UT Southern saw contributions throughout the lineup.
UT Southern will look to bounce back quickly as the Firehawks return home to the Curry Athletic Complex to host Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on January 22.
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