COLUMBIA, S.C. — In front of a roaring Adams Gymnasium crowd, the Allen University men's basketball team delivered a signature moment in their 2025–26 campaign with a thrilling 83–81 overtime victory over Central State University. The game was capped by a clutch rebound and putback layup from junior forward Emon Glenn as time expired, breaking an 81–81 tie and sending the Yellow Jacket faithful into a frenzy.
GAME-WINNING HEROICS
With the score tied after a made free throw by Central State, Senior guard Ashton Henderson drove the length of the court slicing through defender using a euro step to get his shot up, playing through contact as Glenn muscled through traffic to secure a loose rebound off a missed attempt and no foul call on Henderson. With poise and power, he laid in the go-ahead basket as the final horn sounded—ending a gritty battle that featured relentless intensity from both squads.
TEAM BREAKDOWN
Allen shot a sharp 53.7% from the field (29-54) and a scorching 57.9% from three-point range (11-19), showcasing a balanced inside-out attack. The Yellow Jackets were also efficient at the free-throw line, converting 77.8% of their attempts (14-18).
Defensively, Allen forced 12 turnovers, scored 18 points off those miscues, and held Central State to 50.0% shooting in the second half after a red-hot start.
BENCH MOB AND DEPTH ADVANTAGE
Allen's bench provided a crucial spark, outscoring Central State's reserves 37–18. The second unit kept the energy high and delivered clutch plays throughout the contest.
AU STANDOUTS
- Shadale Knight continued to lead the offensive charge, pouring in 14 points on 4-7 shooting and hitting 4 clutch free throws late.
- Sterling Blakely was an engine of energy with 11 points, 2 steals, and consistent pressure on both ends.
- Jaren Phillips also added 11 points and shot a clean 4-7 from the floor, including 2-4 from deep.
- Emon Glenn, the game's hero, finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and the game-winning putback that capped a relentless performance in just 16 minutes of action.
- Tavaris Bell and Ashton Henderson each added 8 points, with Bell dishing out 4 assists and securing 4 rebounds.
MENTAL TOUGHNESS IN CRUNCH TIME
The Yellow Jackets maintained composure through momentum shifts and a strong challenge from Central State's Micah Bays, who scored 36 points. Allen's defensive schemes adjusted in the second half, holding Bays to 14 points after his 22-point first-half explosion.
MOMENTUM SHIFT
This win marks Allen's second consecutive conference victory, fueling a potential late-season surge as the Yellow Jackets improve to 4-14 overall and 3-13 in the SIAC.
NEXT UP
With momentum building and chemistry solidifying, Allen looks ahead to its next test, continuing to show it should not be counted out. The Yellow Jackets will travel to Jackson, Tenn., to face Lane College on Jan. 29.
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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 (HBCUs) 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.