Struggling Teams Clash as Hinds Visits Baton Rouge in JUCO Matchup

BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — Two men’s junior college basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Tuesday when the Hinds Eagles visit the Baton Rouge Bears.

The non-conference game pits programs with a combined 5-16 record this season. Hinds (3-6) enters with a slight edge in wins over Baton Rouge (2-10), but both have faced recent struggles.

The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak in their last outing, a narrow 88-85 home victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast on Dec. 12. That win was fueled by a high-scoring performance from Terrance Clark, who poured in 36 points. Daveon Henry added 21 points, and Austin Ratliff contributed 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Prior to that, Hinds dropped close decisions to Delgado, Holmes and Southern-Shreveport in early December.

Baton Rouge, meanwhile, is coming off one of its best performances of the season, a 60-53 road win at Angelina on Dec. 30. The Bears were led in that contest by Nicholas Womack, a player to watch who logged 36 minutes and posted 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Tyrael-Cage Heke added 9 points and 8 rebounds. The victory over Angelina was a bright spot in a season that has included several lopsided losses, including two to Navarro and one to Northwest Florida State.

The Bears’ only other win was a 123-74 rout of Community Christian College on Dec. 10.

Historically, the teams have not played recently, adding an element of the unknown to the matchup. The game will be the final non-conference tune-up for Hinds before it begins a string of Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference games starting Thursday at Southern-Shreveport. Baton Rouge will open its conference slate on the road Thursday at Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Tuesday’s contest will hinge on whether Hinds can replicate its offensive firepower from its last win and if Baton Rouge can build on the defensive effort that held Angelina to 53 points. Containing Hinds’ Clark and Baton Rouge’s Womack will be key defensive priorities for each squad.

Tip-off is set for Tuesday night at Baton Rouge’s home venue.