TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ A career day from forward Kusamae Draper of 29 points and 12 rebounds helped Tuskegee overpower Kentucky State 83-73 Monday inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
The Golden Tigers extended their win streak to two games and improved their record to 8-8 overall, 6-4 in the SIAC.
The game was tightly contested in the first half, but Tuskegee's strong second half, led by their key players, helped them secure the win.
The game began with both teams showing intensity, but Kentucky State quickly took the lead with back-and-forth scoring. Kentucky State got on the board early, knocking down two quick shots to give the Thoroughbreds a 5-2 lead.
Tuskegee responded with a quick run fueled in part by a pair of three-pointers from D'Anthony Pennington to take their first lead at 12-11. By the 12-minute mark, Tuskegee had established a slight 16-12 advantage.
From there, the teams continued to battle with Tuskegee maintaining the lead, however Kentucky State did not back down, finding themselves tied at 31-31 with just over four minutes to play.
Tuskegee regained the lead shortly after, with a long-range jumper from Rodney Walker Jr. who started to heat up, scoring six points off two threes. Pennington controlled the final stretch of the half, scoring or assisting on the final seven points to give the home team a 41-38 lead at the break.
The Golden Tigers came out of the locker room with an energized defense that made an immediate impact. Draper, who had been strong in the first half, continued his scoring rampage, adding 19 points in the second half.
A three-pointer from Roy Obsaint with 15:45 remaining stretched the Golden Tigers' lead to 54-44, and the team controlled the game from then on, battling off multiple runs from Kentucky State on its way to a lead as large as 14 points in the half.
Kentucky State struggled to respond as Tuskegee's defense tightened, forcing the Thoroughbreds into eight of their ten turnovers in the second half. The defensive pressure was a key factor in maintaining control, forcing Kentucky State to take contested shots and secured key rebounds, especially from Draper, who grabbed eight rebounds in the second half.
With 6:37 remaining, the Golden Tigers led 71-63, and despite a brief push from Kentucky State, Tuskegee's strong shooting and solid defense in the final minutes sealed the game.
Pennington also scored well, finishing with 22 points, six assists and five three rebounds. Walker Jr. had a solid contribution with eight points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Kevin Sesberry and Chip Culpepper added eight and seven points respectively.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to the court on Saturday, January 25 for the first iteration of the rivalry series with Miles on the road inside the Knox-Windham Gym. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
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 Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
