MEMPHIS, Tenn. __ In a thrilling regular-season finale, the Tuskegee men's basketball team edged past conference opponent LeMoyne-Owen with a narrow 63-61 victory on the road at Bruce-Johnson Hall.
With this win, the Golden Tigers moved to an even 13-13 overall and 11-9 in SIAC play, securing a spot as one of the top contenders heading into postseason competition.
The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with the two teams tied 11 times and exchanging the lead on seven occasions.
Both squads demonstrated defensive tenacity and resilience, with Tuskegee ultimately outlasting their opponents down the stretch.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Tuskegee and LeMoyne-Owen trading baskets early.
LeMoyne-Owen took a quick 4-0 lead thanks to a jumper and layup by Philpps Josephs. However, the Golden Tigers responded with a jumper from
Noah Goines and a fast-break layup by
Kevin Sesberry to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The pace picked up as the teams exchanged runs, with neither side able to build a substantial lead.
Sesberry carried the offensive load for Tuskegee, scoring 14 points in the first half alone, while
Kusamae Draper contributed key rebounds and defensive stops.
LeMoyne-Owen's Khalil Genwright and Austin Jordan combined for crucial three-pointers, keeping the home team within reach.
The first half ended with the teams deadlocked at 31-31, setting the stage for an intense second half.
Tuskegee opened the second half with a quick layup from
D'Anthony Pennington to take a 33-31 lead.
LeMoyne-Owen's Abdoul Sacko responded with a layup to tie the game once again. The two teams continued to trade leads, with standout performances from Tuskegee's
Rodney Walker Jr., who notched seven assists, and Goines, who provided a key spark off the bench.
Sesberry's consistent scoring kept the Golden Tigers in contention, and the team's defense held LeMoyne-Owen to a shooting percentage of just 41.2% from the field.
Down the stretch, Tuskegee's resilience paid off as they leaned on key defensive stops, including a crucial steal by Walker with just over a minute remaining.
In the final seconds, it was Sesberry who delivered the game-winning basket, driving to the hoop for a layup as time expired, securing a dramatic 63-61 victory for the Golden Tigers.
Sesberry led all scorers with a game-high 26 points, shooting 8-15 from the field and 9-12 from the free-throw line, followed by Goines who added 12 points and four rebounds. Draper recorded nine points and eight rebounds, providing a strong presence on
With the regular season complete, Tuskegee now turns its focus to the upcoming SIAC Tournament, where they will look to build on their momentum and make a deep postseason run.
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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