Porch's Six Triples Not Enough at Wallace State, 109-101

Hanceville, AL – Despite a furious second-half surge, Calhoun men's basketball came up short Monday night, falling 109-101 on the road to Wallace State.

The Warhawks wasted no time getting on the board, jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead behind back-to-back three-pointers from Jackson Porch. Calhoun's early energy set the tone, and the teams traded baskets through much of the opening stretch.

With the score tied at 24 apiece and under 10 minutes remaining in the first half, momentum shifted. Wallace State strung together a decisive 10-0 run to take a 34-24 lead, capitalizing on defensive stops and transition opportunities. The Lions continued to apply pressure, stretching the advantage to as many as 15 points before Calhoun managed to stabilize late in the half. The Warhawks chipped away just enough to head into the break trailing by 11.

In the second half, Wallace State maintained control, extending its lead to 16 at one point. But Calhoun refused to go quietly. With six minutes remaining, the Warhawks increased their defensive intensity and began forcing tougher possessions from the Lions. The improved effort translated into offensive rhythm, and Calhoun methodically cut into the deficit.

The Warhawks clawed within six points and eventually trimmed the gap to just two in the closing minutes, putting real pressure on the home team down the stretch. However, Wallace State remained composed at the free-throw line, converting crucial late-game attempts to keep Calhoun at arm's length. Forced to rely on deep three-point attempts in the final possessions, the Warhawks were unable to connect on the shots needed to complete the comeback.

Calhoun poured in 61 second-half points in the rally effort, but the 11-point halftime deficit, coupled with two separate double-digit runs by the Lions, ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Jordan Johnson led the way offensively with 25 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting performance. Jackson Porch added 22 points, knocking down six of his 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Carson Muse and Masiah Robinson each contributed double figures as part of a balanced scoring effort.

Head coach Derrick Powell said the loss was a tough one to swallow, especially after the team's late push. "Man, this one hurt," Powell said. "We dug ourselves too deep of a hole on two different occasions and couldn't climb all the way out of it. I'm proud of the fight we showed, but in games like this, you've got to stay within striking distance the whole night. When you fall behind like that, you're asking for a lot late. We've got to learn how to manage those stretches better if we want to come out on top."

Calhoun (16-13, 6-7) will close out the regular season Thursday, March 5, at home against Bishop State (15-14, 9-4). Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Kelley Gymnasium for the program's blackout game.