In College Park, Georgia, Bethune-Cookman advanced to a Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal after securing a 69-60 victory over Alcorn State on Thursday night. Brayon Freeman was instrumental in this quarterfinal win, coming off the bench to score a team-high 19 points for the Wildcats.
As the third seed in the tournament, Bethune-Cookman (17-15) is set to face the second-seeded Jackson State in the semifinals on Friday. The other semifinal will feature No. 8 seed Grambling against Alabama State, who sits in fifth place.
Freeman’s performance was notable as he shot 6 for 12 from the field, including hitting 3 out of 4 three-point attempts and converting 4 of 6 shots from the free-throw line. Trey Thomas also contributed significantly with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Kalil Camara added 12 points, collected seven rebounds, and made four steals for the Wildcats.
On the opposing side, Alcorn State (11-21) was the sixth seed in the competition. Their standout player, Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt, scored 21 points along with five assists and two steals. Djahi Binet bolstered the team with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Marcus Tankersley chipped in 11 points alongside four assists.
By halftime, Bethune-Cookman held a narrow lead of 24-21, with Freeman leading all scorers with 10 points at that stage. In the second half, Freeman proved pivotal again, nailing a crucial 3-pointer with just over five minutes remaining to cement the Wildcats’ advantage at 49-46, ensuring they maintained control to the end.
