Men's Basketball Falls Short at Gadsden, 88-84

Gadsden, AL – Calhoun men's basketball saw a late lead slip away Monday night, falling 88–84 on the road at Gadsden State, which extended its home winning streak to six straight games.

The Warhawks came out sharp, building an early 12-point advantage in the first half behind efficient offense and crisp execution in their half-court sets. Calhoun's zone press disrupted Gadsden's rhythm and forced the hosts out of their preferred tempo, allowing the Warhawks to control the early pace of play.

Foul trouble, however, shifted the momentum before halftime. Extra trips to the free-throw line helped Gadsden trim the deficit to six heading into the break, keeping the contest within reach.

Calhoun responded out of halftime with renewed energy, quickly pushing the lead back to double digits. But in a game defined by swings, turnovers and missed free throws opened the door once again. Gadsden capitalized, chipping away possession by possession until the momentum tilted for good in the closing minutes.

With the pendulum swinging in the home team's favor down the stretch, Calhoun came up just short in the 88–84 conference loss.

Sophomore guard Jordan Johnson continued his standout year as one of junior college's best players in the country, as he led the Warhawks with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jackson Porch added 17 points, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Head Coach Derrick Powell emphasized the importance of closing games in tight conference battles. "We've got to find ways to finish games like this," Powell said. "In this conference, you can't let opportunities slip away. When you have leads on the road, you have to value every possession and close the door."

Calhoun (13-10, 3-4) will now travel to Southern Union (9-14, 4-3) on Thursday, Feb. 12, for a 7:30 p.m. tip.