Box Score
The Bruins couldn't seem to buy a basket in the late stages of the game as the Johnson and Wales University Wildcats handed Bob Jones University its 5th straight loss with a 71-68 defeat on Tuesday night. "We're starting the games with a lot of confidence and then finish with no confidence," Bruins' guard Shawn Lipscomb said as he finished with 9 points and 3 assists. "We always start the games well, but we need to finish well and keep our confidence high the whole game."

 

The Bruins came into Tuesday night with a 6-4 record, having dropped four straight games including a heartbreaking overtime loss on Saturday to Warren Wilson College. The team was looking to bounce back as they welcomed the Johnson and Wales University Wildcats to the Davis Field House in front of the hometown fans.   

Nick Crawford helped the Wildcats to jump out to an early lead as he knocked down several shots in the opening minutes to put the team up 11-5 over the Bruins. Kyle Turner helped the Bruins claw their way back into the game as he scored points in the paint and earned several trips to the line. Turner helped tie the game at 17-17 before the Wildcats scored back-to-back baskets to regain the lead. Each time the Bruins fought back to tie the game, the Wildcats would gain the upper hand again, namely behind the dominant presence of Rickey Porter, who torched the Bruins with 35 points throughout the game. The Bruins closed out the half strong and trailed just 34-32 at the break. 

"I've never seen this group have a time when nobody was able to hit consistent shots in a row," Coach Neal Ring said. "We got to the rim, we had opportunities but we just weren't able to knock down shots in key possessions throughout the game."

In the second half, the Bruins picked up their defensive intensity determined to get back into the game. Bruins forward Tre Tipton had an impressive 6 blocks throughout the contest, including a series in which he blocked three shots in a row. "Early on this season I got in foul trouble with man-on-man blocking and so I am working on secondary blocking and focusing on that," Tipton said. The Bruins were playing well on defense, but the team's shooting went cold as the Bruins were 1-11 from three-point range in the second half while shooting 38% from the floor. Still, the Bruins kept themselves in the game by playing defense and getting to the free throw line. 

With under a minute remaining, Ricky Porter scored and was fouled on the play to give the Wildcats a 66-58 advantage. From there, the Bruins tried to trade two-for-one in points but the Wildcats made free throws when it mattered most to hang on for a 71-68 victory handing the Bruins their 5th straight loss. 

"We have to get our continuity back," Tipton said. "We had that at the beginning of the season when we were playing well, and we've seen that go away over the last few games. We just have to find a way to get that back." 

Kyle Turner led the Bruins with 19 points and 6 rebounds, while Tre Tipton had 11 rebounds and 6 points to go along with 6 blocks. Marshall Riddle was the only other Bruin to score in double figures with 11 points as the team shot just 38% from the field in the game and 19% from three-point range. Overall, the game came down to missed opportunities for the Bruins to score as the team falls to 6-5 on the season. Next up, the Bruins will play a road test on Friday night as they battle Piedmont International University.