PULASKI, Tenn. – In a game that truly was a tale of two halves, UT Southern pulled away after the break to defeat Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 73–56 Thursday afternoon at the Curry Athletic Complex. With winter weather settling into Pulaski, the cold wasn't limited to the temperatures outside, as both teams struggled to find shooting rhythm in the opening half before the Firehawks surged in the second.
The opening minutes reflected the tone of the first half, with missed looks on both ends and possessions grinding into the shot clock. UT Southern broke the ice with a fast-break layup from Jack Harper off a De'Marreon Baldwin assist, but baskets were hard to come by early. Daniel Reyes provided a spark inside with a tip-in and strong finishes in the paint, while Antonio Cochran battled on the glass to create second-chance opportunities as the Firehawks worked to build momentum.
Abraham Baldwin briefly took the lead midway through the half, but UT Southern responded with defensive pressure and timely execution. Cochran knocked down a three-pointer to swing momentum back, and Mike Bell, Jr. followed with a driving layup to push the Firehawks in front. Reyes continued to be effective around the rim, and UT Southern closed the half with a 6–1 spurt, capped by a layup from Reyes and a free throw from Cochran to take a 30–27 lead into halftime. Both teams shot under 31 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, underscoring the sluggish offensive start.
The second half was a different story. UT Southern came out aggressive, immediately attacking the paint and turning defense into offense. Baldwin opened the half with a fast-break dunk, and Reyes followed with another strong finish inside as the Firehawks quickly stretched the lead. Cochran added free throws and a pull-up jumper, and Eric Robinson scored on consecutive drives to help UT Southern build a double-digit advantage.
As Abraham Baldwin attempted to respond, the Firehawks continued to answer. Harper buried a three-pointer midway through the half, and Baldwin consistently pressured the rim, either finishing or drawing fouls. UT Southern's defense also tightened, forcing turnovers that led to transition opportunities, including another Baldwin fast-break bucket and a layup from Robinson to push the lead to its largest margin.
Down the stretch, UT Southern controlled the tempo and closed the game at the free-throw line. Luke Lentz provided a late spark off the bench with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws in the final seconds, while the Firehawks protected the ball and secured rebounds to seal the win.
Baldwin led UT Southern with 15 points, adding six rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in an all-around performance. Reyes followed with 13 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting night, while Cochran chipped in 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to record a double-double. Robinson was perfect from the field, finishing with eight points, and Harper added eight points, including a pair of three-pointers.
UT Southern will be back in action tomorrow, January 23, hosting Thomas University at the Curry Athletic Complex with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m.
