JOURNAL SPORTS

Twelve was a magic number for Bossier Parish Community College Saturday at the Billy Montgomery Gym in a Region XIV 82-77 defeat of Lamar State College-Port Arthur in men’s basketball.

The Cavaliers ran their 2024-25 home record to 12-0 by hitting all 12 of their second half free throws, six of those coming in the final 1:05 breaking a 76-76 tie.

BPCC improved to 12-3 overall and 4-3 in region play and Lamar State fell to 4-11, 1-6.

X’Zaevon Barnett scored a season-high 22 points that included four 3-point makes beyond the arc, his first of the season.  Braylan McNeal added 20 points and Chris Coleman 15 (3 3-point goals). 

McNeal made the first of the final six free throws with 1:05 remaining to give the Cavs the lead for good at 78-76. After Lamar State hit a freebie with 24 seconds left to pull within 78-77, Simeon Powell hit a pair with 14 seconds left and Farvens Ulysse two with 10 ticks remaining for the final points and an 82-77 lead.

After a tight first half that ended with BPCC taking a 43-40 lead at the break, the Cavs used a pair of Coleman 3s five minutes into the second half to take their largest lead 57-44.

Bossier Parish went scoreless for five minutes that allowed the Seahawks to go on a 14-0 scoring run and take a 58-57 lead with 11:30 left in the game.  The teams traded baskets and with Lamar State leading 66-63 with just under eight minutes remaining, Barnett got hot beyond the arc with three straight makes to give the Cavs a 72-66 advantage with 6:04 left in the game. 

Lamar State, who sprinted out to its largest lead at 12-5 the first three minutes of the game, had four players in double figures with Trealyn Prochia leading the way with 15 points before fouling out. Martins Adonry had 13, and Andre Walker II and Darel Reece both scored 11.

BPCC is on the road Wednesday to play Lee College in another Region XIV clash, then hosts Blinn on Saturday afternoon.