TUSKEGEE, Ala. —
Tuskegee men's basketball delivered an impressive performance in their home finale, securing a 78-70 victory over conference opponent
Spring Hill College at the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
The win improves Tuskegee's record to 12-13 overall and 10-9 in SIAC play as they continue their push toward postseason action.
The contest began with a competitive first half, featuring multiple lead changes as both teams traded baskets.
Spring Hill struck first with a three-pointer from Walter Peggs Jr., but Tuskegee responded quickly with an inside score from
Kusamae Draper.
The Golden Tigers established a small lead early, using defensive pressure to limit Spring Hill's offensive efficiency.
Midway through the first half,
Rodney Walker Jr. connected on a three-pointer, giving Tuskegee its largest lead at the time, 19-13. However, Spring Hill answered with a 7-0 run, fueled by second-chance opportunities, to regain a brief lead.
Tuskegee tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on transition opportunities.
Draper continued his strong play in the paint, leading the charge with multiple baskets down low, while Walker knocked down another three-pointer to push the lead back to 26-21.
The Golden Tigers maintained control in the final minutes of the first half, closing with a 30-26 advantage heading into the break.
Coming out of halftime, Spring Hill momentarily gained momentum, erasing the deficit and taking a 34-30 lead following a three-point shot by Eli Lenihan.
Tuskegee, however, quickly responded with a 9-0 run, led by
Kevin Sesberry and
D'Anthony Pennington, reclaiming the advantage at 39-34.
The Golden Tigers' defense intensified, contesting shots and dominating the glass, which helped them extend their lead to 49-40 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
Spring Hill attempted to fight back behind Peggs Jr.'s scoring, but Tuskegee's efficiency at the free-throw line and continued defensive stops prevented any major comeback.
Walker and Draper both delivered clutch baskets, while
Tyshawn Boyce and Pennington stepped up defensively, creating turnovers and converting key fast-break opportunities.
Tuskegee held a double-digit lead for most of the final five minutes, securing the victory with strong free-throw shooting down the stretch.
Draper led the way for Tuskegee with a game-high 27 points along with seven rebounds, followed by 18 points and eight assists from Walker. Meanwhile, Pennington added 17 and four rebounds, and Sesberry added 11 points, all in the second half.
UP NEXT
Tuskegee will return to the court on Monday, Feb. 24, for another conference contest and their final regular season game of the season, facing LeMoyne-Owen. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside of Bruce-Johnson Hall.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.