TUSKEGEE, Ala. – The Tuskegee Golden Tigers men's basketball team delivered a dominant performance in the first round of the SIAC Basketball Championships, defeating Benedict 82-69 inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Golden Tigers improved to 14-13 overall and 11-9 in SIAC play, advancing to the tournament quarterfinals at Forbes Arena on the campus of Morehouse College.
From the opening tip, Tuskegee took control of the game, building an early lead with their high-intensity defense and efficient shooting from beyond the arc.
The Golden Tigers wasted no time setting the tone as
D'Anthony Pennington opened the game with a three-pointer on the first possession, assisted by
Kusamae Draper.
Moments later,
Kevin Sesberry capitalized on a turnover with a fast-break dunk, putting Tuskegee ahead 5-0.
Benedict responded with a second-chance layup from Tony Webb Jr., but Tuskegee's quick pace and defensive pressure continued to give them an advantage.
Sesberry followed with another fast-break layup, forcing Benedict to call an early timeout. The Tigers from Columbia, S.C., attempted to keep pace, but their struggles from the three-point line allowed Tuskegee to extend the margin.
The Golden Tigers pushed their lead to double digits midway through the first half when Sesberry connected on a second-chance three-pointer off a steal by
Ostin Taylor.
The first half belonged to Tuskegee, largely due to their three-point shooting.
The Golden Tigers knocked down an impressive 10-of-17 shots from deep in the first 20 minutes, with Pennington leading the charge. The junior guard drained five three-pointers in the half, finishing with 17 points before the break. With additional contributions from Draper and Sesberry, Tuskegee took a commanding 45-28 lead into halftime.
Benedict attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, opening with an aggressive push led by Cadarius Baggett. The guard scored on a mid-range jumper and followed with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 15.
However, every time Benedict tried to gain momentum, Tuskegee had an answer. Draper responded with back-to-back buckets in the paint, followed by another three from Pennington to push the lead to 25—the largest of the night—with 14:55 remaining.
The Golden Tigers showcased their balanced attack in the second half, with multiple players stepping up to maintain their advantage.
RJ Walker provided strong defensive play while also knocking down a key three-pointer and dishing out eight assists.
Noah Goines contributed on both ends, finishing with seven rebounds while adding five points.
Draper continued his efficient night, tallying 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while Sesberry and Pennington each finished with 18 and 22 points, respectively.
Despite a late push from Benedict, which included a 10-0 scoring run in the closing minutes, Tuskegee's defense held firm. The Golden Tigers forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 25 points, emphasizing their ability to capitalize on their defensive intensity.
Benedict's offense, which struggled from beyond the arc at just 29% (9-of-31), could not overcome the early deficit.
In total, Tuskegee shot 47.5% (29-of-61) from the field, including an efficient 52% (13-of-25) from three-point range. The Golden Tigers dominated in transition, scoring 26 fast-break points compared to just five for Benedict. They also controlled the battle in the paint, outscoring Benedict 30-18 inside.
Up Next
With the victory, Tuskegee now advances to the SIAC quarterfinals, where they will face their next challenge against Albany State at Forbes Arena on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
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.
