BRCC holds off Co-Lin, 68-61

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Nov 3, 2009 - Page: 6C

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Before the first men’s basketball game in Baton Rouge Community College history, Bears coach Todd Foster reminded his players they represent their school, their city and their families.

They represented well.

With eight Bears scoring, BRCC held off Copiah-Lincoln for a historic 68-61 victory Monday in the Southwest Mississippi Community College/Coca-Cola Classic.

“For a first-year program,” Foster said, “I thought we played really well. It’s a process — getting better every day. I thought we got better in this game.”

With the program’s first win in hand, the Bears return to action against Southwest Mississippi at 7 tonight. BRCC has its first home game Thursday against Pearl River Community College.

Port Allen High graduate William Nelson led Monday’s effort with 20 points. Jacobey Ross added 10, and Arsenio Francis scored eight.

The Bears took a big lead early, but Copiah-Lincoln charged late.

The Wolfpack cut the lead to four points with about six minutes to play. Foster called a timeout.

“We didn’t emphasize getting buckets,” Foster said. “We emphasized getting stops.”

BRCC soon bumped the lead back up to eight points. The Bears made six free throws down the stretch to ice their first win.

CO-LIN 84, BRCC WOMEN 57: Shareka Hunt scored a game-high 17 points as Copiah-Lincoln Community College pulled away from Baton Rouge Community College in the second half in the season opener for both teams in Summit, Miss.

Rachel Vigers, who played at Redemptorist and North Iberville, added 12 points for Copiah-Lincoln (1-0).

The Lady Bears trailed by seven points at halftime, 38-31, before Copiah-Lincoln erupted in the second half.