Men's Basketball Slays Lions, 88-82
Decatur, AL – Calhoun men's basketball delivered another statement win at home Monday night, holding off Wallace State 88–82 behind relentless defensive pressure and timely execution down the stretch.
The Warhawks came out sharp from the opening tip, striking first and immediately imposing their identity with full-court pressure. Calhoun's activity on the defensive end forced early Wallace State turnovers, which quickly turned into points on the other end and set the tone for the night. That energy carried through the opening half as the Warhawks dictated pace and built momentum, taking a six-point advantage into the locker room.
Out of halftime, Calhoun turned up the heat. The pressure intensified, the ball continued to move, and the Warhawks stretched the lead to as many as 16 midway through the second half. At that point, Calhoun appeared to have a firm grip on the contest. Wallace State, however, responded with a late surge, flipping the momentum around the 11-minute mark and cutting the deficit to just four points late.
With the game tightening, Calhoun regrouped. The Warhawks refocused defensively, limited clean looks, and executed when it mattered most to close out the Lions and secure the 88–82 victory.
Jordan Johnson led the way for Calhoun with a well-rounded performance, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Johnathan Johnson was dominant on the interior, posting 20 points and 14 rebounds to anchor the Warhawks inside. Jeremiah Police continued his strong two-way play, stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
Head coach Derrick Powell praised the effort after the win, saying, "The intensity and effort on defense tonight was outstanding. That's who we are when we're at our best, active, connected, and relentless. The guys really bought in on that end of the floor, and it made the difference when the game got tight."
Calhoun (12-8, 3-2) will hit the road again quickly to take on Bishop State (9-13, 3-3) on Thursday, February 5, at 7:30 p.m.