Bearcats Knock Off Tennessee Wesleyan Behind Watkins’ Career Day

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Rust College men's basketball program knocked off previously unbeaten Tennessee Wesleyan to notch its first win of the season on Halloween, 71-57.

The men from Mississippi dropped its matchup with Cumberland, seeing its comeback fall short in a 68-63 defeat despite outscoring the Phoenix in the second half (40-34).

In the victory over TWU, Jordan Watkins single-handedly put the Bearcats on his back and willed them to victory, dropping a career and game-best 28 points on 10-of-14 (71.4%) shooting as well as going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line with five rebounds and four steals off the pine in just 30 minutes. No other Bearcat scored more than Marquis Pepper's nine.

Devante Lanier cleaned up on the boards, hauling a game-high 11 rebounds (all defensive) while contributing five points, two assists and a block as well.

The Bearcats as a squad had a hot shooting night by going 26-of-56 (46.4%) and 7-for-23 (30.4%) from downtown compared to the Bulldogs' marks of 30.2 and 26.3, respectively.

Coach Newton's crew will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts the Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen at 6:30 p.m.

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