WEST POINT, Ga. – UT Southern put together one of its strongest offensive performances of the season Saturday afternoon but could not keep pace late, falling 102–93 to Point University at West Point Park Gymnasium as SSAC play continued.

The Firehawks came out aggressive and efficient on the offensive end in the opening half. De'Marreon Baldwin set the tone early, scoring at the rim and finishing through contact on multiple possessions to keep UT Southern out front. Daniel Reyes and Jack Harper added early baskets inside and out, while Eric Robinson facilitated the offense and helped UT Southern play with pace. Midway through the half, Mike Bell, Jr. provided an immediate spark off the bench, knocking down jumpers and attacking the lane as the Firehawks built a narrow lead.

UT Southern continued to score efficiently throughout the first half, shooting over 56 percent from the field. Baldwin remained nearly unstoppable, pouring in 17 first-half points, and the Firehawks answered every run to take a 45–47 deficit into halftime after a tightly contested opening 20 minutes.

The Firehawks opened the second half with confidence. Harper drilled a three to tie the game early, and Baldwin followed by getting to the free-throw line to knot the score again moments later. Antonio Cochran scored on a pull-up jumper and added defensive rebounds to help UT Southern stay within striking distance as the teams traded baskets.

As the half progressed, UT Southern continued to battle offensively. Bell, Jr. caught fire, scoring 16 points in the second half on efficient shooting, while Luke Lentz knocked down timely perimeter shots to keep the Firehawks close. Robinson added points at the free-throw line and pushed the tempo in transition, and Cochran chipped in with baskets inside and from beyond the arc.

Despite the offensive output, Point began to pull away midway through the half behind transition scoring and second-chance opportunities. UT Southern stayed aggressive, with Baldwin attacking the rim late and Bell, Jr. knocking down a three in the final seconds, but the margin proved too much to overcome.

Baldwin led UT Southern with a game-high 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting while adding six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Bell, Jr. followed with 18 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Cochran added 10 points and four rebounds, while Harper chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. Robinson finished with eight points, four assists, and a steal, and Lentz contributed eight points in limited minutes.

UT Southern will look to bounce back quickly, returning home on Thursday, February 5, to host Dalton State at the Curry Athletic Complex. The Firehawks defeated Dalton State earlier this season, earning a 91–85 overtime road win in Dalton.

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