The Bearcats broke away from a tight game with a 21-point third quarter but were unable to hold on to their lead and dropped a 55-51 decision to Mansfield Monday.
Colter Fisher had just four first half points but lit up the Tigers for 13 in the third quarter while helping to build a 47-31 lead.
Fisher would finish with a team-high 19 and Raiden Ferguson (shown), who also had five in the quarter, finished the night with 14.
The lead was 15 with 1:00 to play in the third quarter after a 3 by Ferguson but Mansfield got a pair of 3s before
the quarter ended to cut it back to a single digit.
The Bearcats had led by as many as seven late in the first quarter but Mansfield was back within a basket by the end of the quarter.
The game was tied at 18 and 26 but the Bearcats were able to take a 28-26 lead into halftime with a pair of Ferguson, who had seven first half rebounds and 10 in the game for a double-double, free throws providing the difference.
The Bearcats will next play Thursday night at Lamar as the second game of a two game night.
