WILBERFORCE, Ohio – The Tuskegee men's basketball team dropped a conference road matchup against Central State on Tuesday night at the Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium, falling 75-57.
The loss moves the Golden Tigers to 12-12 overall and 9-9 in SIAC play.
The game started as a back-and-forth affair, with Tuskegee grabbing an early 3-point lead at the 13:15 mark in the first half behind a strong inside presence from
Kusamae Draper.
However, Central State responded with a 9-0 run to take control of the game.
The Marauders capitalized on Tuskegee turnovers and cold shooting stretches, extending their lead to double digits midway through the opening half.
Rodney Walker Jr. kept the Golden Tigers in contention, scoring 16 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting, including three three-pointers. Despite Walker's efforts, Central State remained in control, stretching the lead to 13 points at the break, 42-29.
Coming out of the locker room, Tuskegee showed flashes of resilience, cutting the deficit to single digits early in the second half with a combination of defensive pressure and transition buckets from Draper and
D'Anthony Pennington.
However, Central State's Steven Key II proved to be a difference-maker, tallying 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists while controlling the tempo.
Tuskegee struggled from beyond the arc in the second half, shooting just 1-of-5 from three-point range, which allowed Central State to maintain a comfortable lead.
The Marauders won the rebounding battle, holding a 33-31 edge, including 11 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points.
Draper finished the game with 20 points, four rebounds, and a team-high six drawn fouls.
Pennington contributed 10 points, but the Golden Tigers were unable to find enough scoring depth, with only three players reaching double figures.
Central State's balanced offensive attack, featuring six players with eight or more points, proved too much to overcome.
Tuskegee was outshot from the free-throw line, with Central State converting 18-of-22 attempts (81.8 percent) compared to Tuskegee's 10-of-15 (66.7 percent).
The Marauders also capitalized on fast-break opportunities, outscoring the Golden Tigers 5-1 in transition and 17-2 in bench points.
With the loss, Tuskegee now looks to bounce back in their next contest as they continue their road stretch in SIAC play. The Golden Tigers will look to improve their offensive consistency and defensive intensity as they make their final push toward the postseason.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to the court on Saturday, February 22 for another conference contest and their final home game of the season, as they host Spring Hill. Tip-off is set for 3:00 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
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook.
