Men's Basketball Falls Short at Shelton State, 91-81

Tuscaloosa, AL — Calhoun men's basketball came up just short in a hard-fought road battle Monday night, falling 91–81 to Shelton State in a game that remained in doubt until the final four and a half minutes.

The opening half was tightly contested from start to finish. Shelton State used its home-court advantage to maintain a slim edge, but Calhoun consistently answered, never allowing the deficit to grow beyond eight points. The Warhawks eventually pulled even at 37–37 with under a minute remaining in the half, only to see the Bucs close on a brief surge. Shelton converted on three straight possessions to end the half on a 6–0 run, taking a 43–37 lead into the locker room.

The second half proved even more competitive, with momentum swinging back and forth through a series of ties and lead changes. Calhoun continued to apply pressure and briefly grabbed a 71–69 advantage with 5:22 remaining before Shelton tied the game at the free-throw line. From that point on, the contest slowly tilted in the Bucs' favor. Shelton maintained a three-to-seven point cushion over the final stretch, capitalizing at the charity stripe while Calhoun struggled to knock down enough perimeter shots to close the gap.

Despite the late push, the Warhawks couldn't regain control, as Shelton State converted key free throws down the stretch to seal the 91–81 conference win.

Despite the loss, Sophomore guard Jordan Johnson was automatic, leading all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and added four rebounds, two assists, and four steals in a strong all-around effort. Jackson Porch and Johnathan Johnson each contributed 11 points, but Calhoun was unable to overcome a 44–29 rebounding disadvantage.

Head Coach Derrick Powell reflected on the narrow margin. "That was a tough one because it came down to execution in the final few minutes," Powell said. "I loved our fight and our competitiveness on the road, but we've got to finish possessions, whether that's securing rebounds or knocking down open shots when it matters. Against a team like Shelton, every detail counts, and we've got to be sharper in those moments."

The Warhawks (11-7, 1-1) will return home Thursday, January 22, hosting Coastal Alabama South (5–12, 0–2) for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at Kelley Gymnasium.