SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Tuskegee men's basketball team continued its strong conference play with a commanding 54-41 victory over Savannah State on Saturday inside Tiger Arena.
The win improved the Golden Tigers' overall record to 6-6 and their SIAC record to 4-2.
In a game marked by solid defense and timely scoring, Tuskegee's offense was led by senior guard
D'Anthony Pennington, who contributed a game-high 20 points.
Pennington shot an efficient 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 mark from three, along with adding four rebounds and two assists. He was a key factor in the first half, helping Tuskegee to a 30-24 lead by halftime.
Savannah State entered the contest with a 5-5 record and 3-3 in the SIAC but struggled offensively against Tuskegee's stingy defense.
In the half, Savannah State managed to stay within striking distance, but Tuskegee's defense stifled their opportunities to take the lead, forcing multiple turnovers and preventing fast breaks.
Pennington's three-pointer early in the second half helped to ignite a run that gave the Golden Tigers their largest lead of the game.
The Golden Tigers held the Tigers to just 31.6 percent shooting from the field, including a 21 percent performance from beyond the arc. Savannah State also struggled with ball control, committing 23 turnovers that led to 34 points for Tuskegee.
After a close start to the second half, Tuskegee's defense clamped down. The Golden Tigers extended their lead to 17 points with just over two minutes remaining, thanks to timely scoring from
Kevin Sesberry, who finished with 10 points and two steals. The bench also played a vital role in the victory, with 11 points coming from the reserves.
The second half was defined by a decisive scoring run for the Golden Tigers, punctuated by back-to-back fast-break points from Pennington and crucial free throws from Sesberry.
Tuskegee made 20-of-26 free throws (76.9 percent), which helped to seal the victory in the final moments. In contrast, Savannah State struggled at the charity stripe, making only 13 of 24 attempts (54 percent).
Along with Pennington in double figures was
Kusamae Draper, who added 13 points and six rebounds, followed by Sesberry.
The Golden Tigers were able to overcome a slow offensive start, leaning on their defensive prowess, rebounding (39 total rebounds), and scoring from key contributors. Tuskegee's ability to control the tempo and limit Savannah State's offensive opportunities proved to be the difference.
Up Next
Tuskegee's next contest will see them continue their road stretch against Edward Waters on Monday at 7 p.m. ET as they aim to build momentum and extend their conference success.
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.
