The 14th-ranked Cardinals kept their hopes for a bye in the opening round of the upcoming Region XIV Tournament alive Saturday afternoon with a crucial 80-68 win at Cardinal Gym against Kilgore College.
With just over 10 minutes left in the first half, the Cardinals found themselves in a 26-16 deficit. By the time halftime arrived, they had taken a 37-35 lead.
The Cardinals, who improved to 21-6 overall and 12-4 in Regio XIV Conference, rode the play of Ahamad Bynum, Garrett Nuckolls and Devy Franklin in the second half to put enough distance on the scoreboard to preserve the win. The Cardinals dished out a healthy helping of defense, holding the Rangers to 31 fewer points than in a 99-83 win against the Cardinals last month in Kilgore.
Bynum finished with 19 points, including three three-pointers. Nuckolls and Franklin had 10 each.
The Cardinals are scheduled to travel Wednesday to Bossier Parish for a 5:30 p.m. start. Saturday, they are at home against Paris at 4 p.m.
