The 77th Annual SIAC Men’s Basketball Championship Game pitted two teams who have smelled the aroma of an SIAC Championship. Although some time has elapsed since either has won the title, the number one seed Clark Atlanta University Panthers were winners of the 1965, 1954, and 1940 crowns. The number three seed Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University were winners of the 1979 and 1944 titles.
Tonight’s championship game started with the teams trading early baskets. It was Clark Atlanta who broke to an early 10-6 lead before the first time out. With 14:05 remaining, it was a 12-11 Panther lead. At 11:30 left, Tuskegee took a 19-16 lead. At 10 minutes remaining, the Panthers claimed a 22-19 lead. That was still the score at the seven minute mark. The scoring lull continued until the 4:46 mark when Tuskegee’s Jeremy Williams hit a pair of free throws to make the score 22-21, Clark Atlanta. After a defensive stop, on the next trip down the floor the Golden Tigers got a lay up from Derrick White to take the lead 23-22. It was the fifth lead change in the first half.
With 1:32 remaining, the teams were tied at 25 points. On a three point shot, Clark Atlanta’s Jourdain Blackmon was fouled. He went one of three from the line and the Panthers led, 26-25. A steal and lay up by Johnathan Simpson just before the buzzer sent the Panthers of Clark Atlanta into the locker room with a 28-26 lead.
The Golden Tigers had the ball to start the second half. After a turnover, the Panthers seized the opportunity to take a 4-0 run and build a 32-26 lead. At the 17:42 mark, the Panthers led 34-28. A jumper by David Brown gave Clark Atlanta a 39-34 edge. Two successful trips down the floor for Tuskegee ended with lay ups by Robert Davis and White and cut the deficit to one point, 39-38. That was followed by a Lorell Friend lay up for Tuskegee who took the lead 40-39 with 11:54 remaining. It was the ninth lead change of the game.
A 5-0 run for Clark Atlanta starting at the 10:59 mark gave them a 45-40 lead with 8:38 remaining. The Golden Tigers immediately answered with their own 5-0 run to tie the game at 45 with 7:33 left. Blackmon countered with a three point jumper to spring Clark Atlanta ahead, 48-45. Andre Nelson had a tip in on the Tuskegee end of the floor and the Golden Tigers trailed 48-47 at the 6:11 mark.
With 4:44 left, Tuskegee took a 51-48 lead after Lorell Friend converted a jump shot and then a lay up, forcing a Clark Atlanta time out. After the eleventh lead change, with 3:46 remaining, Tuskegee led 52-51.
With 2:00 left, Tuskegee led 56-52. With 1:09 left, the Tuskegee lead was extended to 59-53. With 17 seconds left Tuskegee led 60-57 and would go on to win the SIAC crown 61-57.
The freshman Calvin Thomas led the conference champs in scoring with 16 points. Lorell Friend added 15 points and eight rebounds. Derrick White contributed 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The conference title was the first for head coach Leon Douglas at Tuskegee University and his second overall (he won his first conference title as the head coach of the Tigers of Stillman College in 2006).