BOSSIER CITY, La. – Bossier Parish Community College freshman guard Paul King scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Cavaliers to a 77-75 come-from-behind victory over the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals Wednesday night at the Coach Billy Montgomery Gymnasium.
King, a Ouachita Parish High School product, scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half. He was 8-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-8 from beyond the arc and was 12-for-13 from the free throw line. Not only was his 31 points a career-high for King, but it was the most points scored by a Cavalier in a game this season.
BPCC trailed throughout most the game, falling behind by as much as 16 in the first half. However, the Cavaliers kept the score within 10 points the majority of the second half until grabbing momentum late. BPCC took a 74-73 lead with 1:01 remaining when Will LaPoole, who was King's teammate at OPHS, made one of his two free throws.
With 17 seconds remaining, TVCC had two chances to regain the lead but missed both shots, and were forced to foul. King went to the line and sank both free throws to give the Cavs a 76-73 lead. With two seconds left, TVCC's Vladimir Purtskhvanidze had a put-back, which came off of Trevon Fuller's missed three-pointer from the left corner. The Cardinals immediately fouled E.J. Clark, who made one of his two free throws. LaPoole intercepted the Cardinals in-bounds pass to seal the 77-75 victory for the Cavaliers.
Clark and LaPoole, who each scored 14 points, were the only other Cavaliers besides King to reach double figures in the game. Allen Hatchett, Jr. narrowly missed a double-double as he scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the win.
TVCC was led by Fuller, who scored 22, while Anderson Mirambeaux added 17, Darry Moore scored 13 and Purtskhvanidze had 10 points in the losing effort.
With the win, BPCC improves to 17-10 overall and 10-7 in Region XIV, while the loss drops TVCC to 16-11 overall and 9-7 in region play. BPCC's 10 wins is the most for a Cavaliers' team since moving into Region XIV.
BPCC returns to action on Sat., February 22, when the Cavaliers travel to Carthage, Texas to battle the Panola College Ponies.