MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Spring Hill College men's basketball earned a hard-fought 96-93 victory over Mississippi Christian University on Saturday afternoon, overcoming a late second-half deficit to secure its first win of the season at Bruce Hall/Johnson Gymnasium.
The Badgers (1-1) got off to a strong start offensively, building a 54-42 halftime advantage behind 21 first-half field goals and eight three-pointers.
Zahir Gutierrez led the charge, scoring 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting while adding five rebounds and three assists.
Houston Cunningham also had a big afternoon, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including three three-pointers.
Sheldon Gatlin added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four triples, while
Keaton Cross contributed 10 points and three assists.
Spring Hill maintained its double-digit advantage early in the second half, leading by as many as 14 points, but Mississippi Christian steadily chipped away at the deficit. The visitors eventually pulled even at 79-79 with 6:35 remaining before the two teams traded baskets down the stretch.
Gutierrez helped keep the Badgers within striking distance, knocking down a three-pointer to tie the game at 91-91 with 1:59 remaining. Gatlin followed with a free throw to put Spring Hill ahead, but Mississippi Christian answered with two free throws of its own to take a 93-92 lead with 1:03 left.
Cross responded at the line, converting both attempts with 55 seconds remaining to give the Badgers a 94-93 advantage. After a defensive stop, Gutierrez delivered the final blow with a layup with nine seconds on the clock, extending the lead to three. Mississippi Christian's final three-point attempt fell short, sealing the 96-93 victory.
Spring Hill finished the afternoon shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Badgers also made the most of their defensive opportunities, scoring 19 points off 13 Mississippi Christian turnovers while committing just five turnovers themselves.
Israel Kongolo paced the Badgers on the glass with seven rebounds and added five assists.
Alex Madrid chipped in six rebounds and three assists, while Cross dished out three assists to go along with his 10 points.
Next Up:
Spring Hill returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 17, traveling to take on South Alabama in an exhibition matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
