The New Bern Bears (New Bern, NC) basketball nipped the visiting Martin County Knights (Williamston, NC), 41-40 in Monday's non-league test.

The Bears (3-11) will now prepare for their test against D.H. Conley (Greenville, NC). The Vikings go into the 3A/4A Big Carolina test with a 9-3 record. In their last test, D.H. Conley got by J.H. Rose (Greenville, NC), 61-31, in a league test.

The Knights now own a 3-10 record. They play next when they host Perquimans for a 1A Four Rivers test on Friday, January 19. Martin County will encounter a Pirates squad coming off a 37-30 league win over Gates County (Gatesville, NC). The Pirates record now stands at 13-2.