Cats Take Bulldogs to Wire before Falling on Last Second Shot

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Wildcats hit the road for an exciting exhibition game against Union University in Jackson, Tennessee Tuesday night. From the opening tip, it was clear this was going to be a hard-fought contest, with both teams battling for every possession.

At the 16-minute media timeout, the Cats held a narrow 10-8 lead, with senior Connor Guthrie accounting for seven of the team's points. Guthrie was active early, showing his leadership on both ends of the floor. By the 12-minute mark, the Wildcats had expanded their lead to five points at 15-10, thanks in part to a big three-pointer from Tyler Neely off the bench, sparking the team's offense from beyond the arc.

As the game progressed, the Bulldogs began to challenge the Cats, but the Wildcats responded. By the eight-minute media timeout, the Cats led 31-27, with two players already in double figures—Guthrie with 10 and David Starr matching him with 10 of his own. Guthrie continued to build on his scoring, pushing his total to 15 points at the four-minute media timeout. However, despite the strong effort from Guthrie and the rest of the team, the Wildcats' lead had dwindled to just one point, 36-35.

At halftime, the Bulldogs had managed to edge ahead, leading 46-45. Guthrie had been the standout for the Wildcats in the first half, leading all scorers with 20 points. Starr had added 10, and Trevor Chatman came off the bench to contribute eight points, providing valuable depth. The Cats shot 45% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc, but their defense would need to tighten up in the second half if they wanted to secure a win.

The second half began with renewed energy from the Wildcats. Starr came out strong, adding four points early on, and by the first media timeout, the game was still tight. However, the Bulldogs took control midway through the half, and at the 12-minute media timeout, the Cats found themselves trailing by five points in what was turning into a defensive battle. Both teams struggled to find consistent scoring, but the Wildcats weren't backing down.

At the media timeout, the Cats fought their way back into the game, regaining the lead at 69-68. Daveonne Warfield played a crucial role during this stretch, hitting three clutch free throws, while Brayden Nunnally contributed four important points.

With just four minutes to go, the score was tied at 75-all. Ethan Turner stepped to the free-throw line and knocked down two huge shots, bringing the game to 77-75 in favor of the Wildcats. Then, in a moment of brilliance, Chatman hit a massive three-pointer from the corner, pushing the Cats to a 78-75 lead.

The game continued to be a back-and-forth battle. The Bulldogs answered with a quick bucket, retaking the lead at 80-78. But Chatman wasn't done yet. In a crucial moment, he grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a stick-back layup, tying the game 82-82 with just seconds remaining.

With 13.2 seconds left, Guthrie made a gutsy play. He went up for a shot that was ruled goaltending by the Bulldogs, giving the Cats an 84-82 lead. The Wildcats were on the verge of an exciting exhibition win.

But in a heartbreaking turn, the Bulldogs responded with a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, sealing the 85-84 victory. The Wildcats fought valiantly but came up just short in this thrilling contest.

Despite the loss, the Wildcats had a lot to be proud of. Guthrie finished the game with a game-high 26 points, showing why he's the leader of the team. Chatman provided a huge spark off the bench, scoring 18 points, while Starr added 16 points. The Cats shot 45% from the floor, 40% from three-point range, and an impressive 85% from the free-throw line, showing improvement in all areas.

Though the Wildcats didn't secure the win, this exhibition game showcased their resilience, depth, and fighting spirit, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.

Union moved to 4-0 on the season. Bethel is 4-1 on the year. 

The Cats are back in action this weekend in the Centennial Bank Classic.

On Friday, the Wildcats meet Fisk at 8 p.m. The Georgetown Tigers battle Florida College at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the Tigers meet Fisk at 2 p.m. while the Cats close out the classic at 4 p.m. versus Florida College at 4 p.m.

Watch for more on the classic at: www.bethelathletics.com

Article by Derrick Hubble-Sports Information Assistant