Jags hold off Bears for 67-55 win

The Northridge Jaguars hosted the Bears from Sipsey Valley at The Ridge on Monday night. Although the Jags never relinquished their lead after one quarter, the Bears never gave up. After Northridge took a 17-point lead after three quarters, Sipsey Valley made a surge that cut the lead to seven at one point in the fourth quarter. However, the Jags were able to hold off the Bears and increase their lead, winning by a final of 67-55.

Both teams came out shooting well in the first quarter. When it ended, the Jags held the slimmest of leads at 15-14. Northridge gained a little ground in the second quarter, outscoring Sipsey Valley 15-10, allowing them to take a 30-24 lead into halftime.

The Jags had their best offensive and defense spans of the game in the third, scoring 20 and allowing only nine, resulting in a 17-point lead at 50-33 to close out the third quarter. The Bears put together a couple of surges in the fourth quarter, but the Jags responded well and closed out the game with a 12-point win, 67-55.

Elias Fleming led Northridge in scoring, pouring in 20 points. Adam Hall followed with 13 points. Mize Parker totaled 10 points on the evening and Tavares Jones chipped in nine. Andrew Matthews and Miller James totaled five points. Garrett Ingram contributed three points and Ben Leitner rounded out the scoring with two points for the cause.

Matthews and Fleming recorded four assists each and Jones had three. Ingram, Hall, James and John Crew had one assist each.

Jones led the Jags with 11 rebounds. Matthews and Hall collected five rebounds each. Fleming, Ingram and James totaled four rebounds apiece. Crew had two rebounds. Mayson Elam and Parker had one rebound each.

Matthews, Jones, Hall and James had two steals each. James had two blocks with Jones and Hall recording one each.

As a team, Northridge hit 15 of 36 2-points shots and 9 of 22 3-point attempts. The Jags hit 10 of 17 free throws.