ATLANTA, Ga. __ Tuskegee men's basketball fell in a heartbreaking 67-66 loss to Savannah State in the SIAC Basketball Championship game on Saturday at Forbes Arena in Atlanta.
With the defeat, the Golden Tigers move to 16-14 overall on the season. The back-and-forth battle came down to the final seconds, with Savannah State securing the win on a late free throw.
Tuskegee started strong in the first half, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead behind key baskets from Kusamae Draper and Kevin Sesberry.
The Golden Tigers continued to control the tempo, with Sesberry leading the offense and the team finding success in the paint. Despite a run from Savannah State, Tuskegee closed the half leading 32-28, using their defensive pressure to force key stops.
Savannah State responded early in the second half, cutting the deficit and eventually taking a 39-38 lead after a three-pointer from Qua King.
The two teams traded baskets throughout the half, with neither able to pull away. Tuskegee briefly regained an eight-point lead at 36-28 after a layup from Draper, but Savannah State continued to fight back.
With under five minutes remaining, the Golden Tigers held a 62-57 advantage, but Savannah State made clutch plays down the stretch, capitalizing on Tuskegee's missed opportunities at the free-throw line.
A late three-pointer from Savannah State's King tied the game at 66 with under 30 seconds to play.
Tuskegee had a chance to take the lead on their final possession, but a contested shot missed the mark. Savannah State then drew a foul with under two seconds left and converted one of two free throws to secure the win.
Sesberry led the Golden Tigers with 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists, shooting 6-of-14 from the field. Draper contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while D'Anthony Pennington added eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Tuskegee finished the game shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, while Savannah State shot 43.2 percent overall.
Rebounding played a crucial role in the contest, with Tuskegee holding a narrow 41-39 advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points.
The Golden Tigers also forced 13 turnovers and recorded five blocks, but Savannah State made timely plays down the stretch.
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