Men's Basketball Downs Bishop on Sophomore Night, 98-93

Decatur, AL – On Sophomore Night inside Kelley Gymnasium, Calhoun men's basketball delivered a memorable sendoff for its veteran class, holding off Bishop State for a hard-fought 98–93 victory Thursday night.

With five sophomores in the starting lineup, the Warhawks leaned heavily on veteran leadership in a tightly contested 40-minute battle with the Wildcats.

From the opening tip, both teams traded punches in a physical, back-and-forth first half. Calhoun relied on experienced play and disciplined possessions to navigate the early stages of the game. The Warhawks' steady approach kept the contest close throughout the opening 20 minutes.

Midway through the half, Calhoun faced a brief challenge when Sayiid Allen was forced to the bench with foul trouble, prompting the regular starter, freshman Johnathan Johnson, to enter the game earlier than expected. The freshman provided a spark, helping the Warhawks maintain their rhythm as the teams continued to battle possession by possession.

Despite Calhoun's balanced offense, the Warhawks struggled to slow Bishop State's Jeremiah Sem, who found consistent scoring opportunities throughout the night. Still, Calhoun managed to edge ahead late in the half and took a narrow 41–40 lead into the break.

The second half mirrored much of the first, with neither team able to create much separation. Carson Muse showcased his offensive versatility during the stretch, repeatedly finding ways to create his own shot while helping keep the Warhawks in front.

Meanwhile, Calhoun's defense began to ramp up the pressure. The Warhawks turned up the intensity on the perimeter and around the rim, finishing the game with 11 steals and six blocks as a team.

Down the stretch, Calhoun was able to gain a slim advantage and relied on clutch free-throw shooting in the final minutes to seal the five-point victory.

Several members of the sophomore class delivered strong performances in their final home appearance. Tahir Bond filled the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Masiah Robinson added 10 points along with four steals, a block and two assists.

Muse contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Jackson Porch finished with 11 points. Jordan Johnson led the Warhawks offensively with 24 points while also adding seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Off the bench, freshman Johnathan Johnson made a major impact with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Bishop's Jeremiah Sem led all scorers with 37 points.

Following the win, Head Coach Derrick Powell said the moment meant a lot to the program and the sophomore class that helped guide the team all season. "It was really special to see those guys walk off the floor with a win in their last game here," Powell said. "They've put so much into this program, and they've been leaders for us all year. To watch them compete the way they did tonight says everything about who they are. Now we want to keep that same energy and carry it with us into the conference tournament."

Calhoun (17–13, 7–7) will face Wallace State (15–15, 7–7) in the first round of the ACCC/Region 22 Tournament on Thursday, March 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Talladega College.