MOUNT VERNON, Ga.  - Brewton-Parker Christian University men's team took on the South Carolina State University Bulldogs in an exhibition game in Orangeburg, S.C., on December 19, 2025. The Barons fought hard and gave the Division I Bulldogs a challenging game, but ultimately came up just short, 68-54.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, going on a 9-2 run in the first five minutes of the game. However, the Barons responded, cutting the lead at halftime thanks to great play from Gil Gonzalez, who scored on fast breaks, along with Xavier Gordon-Somers and Jakobe Jones getting to the basket. By halftime, the Barons had trimmed the deficit to seven, trailing 34-27.

In the second half, the Barons, led by Melvin Gordon, managed to tie the game up within the first five minutes of the half. The Bulldogs' offense was just too much to stop after that as they pulled away and pushed the lead to 11 points with under three minutes to go. The Barons were unable to cut the lead further and, despite their best efforts, dropped the game 68-54.

The Barons were led in points with a standout performance by Melvon Gordon, who shot lights out from beyond the arc, going 5-8, scoring 19 points, and grabbing five rebounds. Xavier Gordon-Somers stood out with 11 points and five boards as well.

Head Coach Leonard Epps shared his thoughts on the game. "Today we played a tough team with size we haven't seen before, but we were still able to compete toe to toe with them for 30 minutes, even tying it up in the second half. Proud of our guys showing some grit and toughness and ready to get some much-needed rest with this Christmas break."
 

With Christmas break ahead, the Barons will now enjoy some days off before returning to action. They will restart their season on December 29, 2025, with a home game against Spartanburg Methodist College at Gillis Gymnasium.

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