FRANKFORT, Ky. __ The Golden Tiger men's basketball team earned a critical 76-61 victory on the road on Wednesday night against Kentucky State in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play.
With the win, Tuskegee improves to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in SIAC play. The Golden Tigers showcased a dominant second half, outscoring Kentucky State 48-33 after a close first half that saw both teams tied at 28-28 heading into the break.
The game started with both teams trading leads throughout the first half. Tuskegee jumped out to an early advantage, but Kentucky State quickly answered with strong performances from Lavar Miller Jr. and Aziel Blackwell, who both played key roles in keeping the game close.
Tuskegee responded with a balanced attack, with guards
D'Anthony Pennington and
Kevin Sesberry combining for 14 points in the first half.
Despite solid individual performances, Tuskegee struggled with consistency in shooting, finishing the half shooting just 38.1 percent from the field. Kentucky State's defense and efficient offense kept the game tight, with the score tied at 28-28 going into halftime.
Tuskegee came out in the second half with a renewed focus, with Pennington continuing his strong performance and
Kusamae Draper stepping with 15 of his 17 points in the last 20 minutes.
The Golden Tigers found their rhythm offensively, shooting 58.6 percent in the second half and dominating in the paint, outscoring Kentucky State 48-16 in that area.
The defense, which had struggled at times in the first half, tightened in the second, forcing Kentucky State into turnovers and limiting their second-chance opportunities.
Pennington finished the game with a game-high 23 points, shooting nearly 82 percent (9-for-11) from the field, and three steals. Meanwhile, Draper added 17 points with six rebounds, while Sesberry finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, providing a strong presence down the stretch.
Despite Kentucky State's efforts, including 22 points from Miller Jr. and 20 points from Blackwell, Tuskegee's defense and offensive execution in the second half were too much for the Thorobreds.
Tuskegee capitalized on Kentucky State's turnovers, forcing 16 on the game, and converting those into 17 points. The Golden Tigers were also effective on the boards, outrebounding Kentucky State 37-32, with
Noah Goines contributing valuable minutes to assist in the rebounding effort, finishing with a near double-double at nine points and seven rebounds.
The Golden Tigers shot 46.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, but it was their ability to control the game in the paint and limit Kentucky State's shooting that allowed them to pull away in the second half.
Kentucky State shot 31.5 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from beyond the arc, which significantly hindered their offensive flow.
Despite a decent showing at the free-throw line (66.7 percent on 30 attempts), Kentucky State's shooting struggles and Tuskegee's defensive adjustments were key factors in the Golden Tigers' win.
The victory moves Tuskegee to 2-1 in SIAC play, and the team will look to carry the momentum from this win into their next game, continuing to improve on both sides of the ball as they head into a busy conference schedule.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to the court this weekend for their next matchup, another conference battle, this time at home against defending champions Clark Atlanta. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Men's Basketball, visit
GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on
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