SHREVEPORT, La. (Interstat) — The Southern-Shreveport Jaguars defeated the Baton Rouge Bears 83-76 in a men’s junior college basketball game Monday.

Southern-Shreveport built a halftime lead behind 38 first-quarter points and held on despite a 27-point, 9-assist effort from Baton Rouge’s Noah Whitehead. The Bears shot just 29 of 63 from the floor and 4 of 17 from three-point range, struggling to overcome the early deficit.

The Jaguars improved to 5-7 this season. Baton Rouge fell to 2-13. The teams meet again Saturday in Shreveport.