SUMMIT — Take care of the basketball.

Southwest Mississippi Community College men’s basketball coachBill Wallace preaches the value of the ball. His pregame sermon hada positive effect Monday night and the Bears roared to an 82-63South Division triumph over the archrival Co-Lin Wolves in HolmesGymnasium.

Co-Lin was minus men’s head coach Dennis Sims who washospitalized Monday at KDMC with a viral infection. Sims became illlast Friday. Co-Lin women’s coach Gwyn Young coached the team lastnight.

“I tell my players that the ball costs $50 but it puts bread onmy table,” said Wallace. “My high school coach, Dale Watts, used tostress how important it was to value the ball. Take care ofit.”

Wallace’s Bears hiked their record to 11-9 overall and 5-4 inthe South, realizing a rare win over Co-Lin (14-5, 7-2). Wallacewas a player at Southwest when Sims was coaching the Southwestwomen’s team several years ago.

“I missed Dennis tonight,” said Wallace. “We are real goodfriends and I talk to him quite often on the phone. I’ve alwaysrespected him.”

The Bears, who have won 5 of their last 6 games, showed norespect for the Wolves as they avenged an earlier loss at Co-Lin.They dominated the inside game and their guards repeatedly stolethe basketball and cashed in layups in the second half.

Wallace said the primary goal was to slow down Co-Lin’s postoffense which is led by 6-foot-10 Christian Marshall and 6-8 GregTruvillion. “We made it difficult for them to get the ball. Wewanted to limit the touches of No. 44 (Truvillion) and No. 34(Marshall).”

The Bears got a game-high 19 points from Aubrey Coleman, a 6-3freshman guard from Houston, Texas. Brian Phelps, a 6-2 sophomoreguard from Vicksburg, added 12 points. Brandon Bryant and BobbySteptoe each scored 11 points.

Southwest dominated the backboards, led by 6-7 sophomore BrandonBryant’s 8 rebounds. He’s from Rochester, N.Y.

“It’s a drain coaching both teams,” Young admitted. Neither henor Sims have an assistant coach on staff.

“Southwest played really good tonight,” said Young. “Number 12(Coleman) did a super job. We got behind and didn’t score. I thinkwe missed 25 shots in the lane.”

Co-Lin got 14 points from Marshall. Guard Corey London scored 13points and Truvillion had 12. Truvillion was in early foultrouble.

The Wolves claimed their last lead at 49-48 on a trey by JuliusBlanks with 12:52 left in the game. Southwest responded with a 13-2run and led 61-51 with 8:04 left to play.

Co-Lin defeated Southwest 82-65 Jan. 11, at Wesson.