Miami Dade Dominates Southern Union State in Opening Day of Jim Cox Classic

The Miami Dade College Sharks kicked off the Jim Cox Classic in style with a commanding 89-64 victory over Southern Union State Community College. After a tightly contested first half, the Sharks erupted in the second, outscoring their opponents 59-41 to secure the win.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm early, with Miami Dade holding a slim 30-23 lead at halftime. Southern Union State's Prince Mensah kept his team in the game with a dominant inside presence, scoring 11 of his game-high 21 points in the first half while grabbing six rebounds.

The Sharks found their groove after the break, led by the efficient scoring of Faheim Saintleger Meran, who tallied 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including three triples. Miami Dade's balanced attack was evident as four players scored in double digits, including Hassan Belkhaddar with 16 points off the bench, and Kenneth Brayboy, who contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.

Point guard Jamaal Morris orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out eight assists while adding 11 points. On the defensive end, the Sharks were active, forcing 11 turnovers and limiting Southern Union State to just 37.3% shooting from the field.

Miami Dade's rebounding advantage played a crucial role, as they outrebounded Southern Union State 46-41. Bronson Borlace was a standout, recording a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.

Prince Mensah was the lone bright spot for Southern Union State, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Sharks' relentless attack. Taj Davis chipped in with 12 points off the bench, but the team's 23.1% shooting from beyond the arc hindered their comeback hopes.

The Sharks will look to make it a perfect weekend tomorrow as they take on Central Georgia Technical College.