WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Coming off the holiday break and in search of momentum, Central State University delivered its most complete performance of the season, knocking off No. 19 Miles College, 65–58, Saturday afternoon inside Historic Beacom/Lewis Gymnasium.
The win marked a critical SIAC victory for the Marauders, who improved to 4–6 overall and 3–5 in conference play, while handing Miles just its second loss of the season as the Golden Bears fell to 8–2 (6–2 SIAC).
BACK-AND-FORTH BATTLE
The opening half set the tone for a tightly contested matchup, as both teams traded punches and finished the period deadlocked at 29–29. Neither side led by more than a few possessions, with seven ties and multiple lead changes highlighting the physical, defensive nature of the contest.
Coming out of the locker room, Central State turned up the intensity. The Marauders outscored Miles 36–29 in the second half, using improved ball movement, timely shooting, and defensive pressure to create separation late.
RANDLE LEADS THE WAY
Javantae Randle anchored the Marauders' effort with a dominant performance, pouring in a game-high 19 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting, while adding six rebounds, two steals, and a block. His ability to finish inside and control the paint proved pivotal as CSU outscored Miles 36–28 in points in the paint.
Micah Bays followed with 10 points and four rebounds, while Keionte Cornelius came off the bench to provide a spark with 10 points, including two three-pointers. Central State's depth was a difference maker, as the Marauder bench contributed 26 points.
DEFENSE AND DISCIPLINE
Central State's defense rose to the challenge against one of the SIAC's most efficient teams. The Marauders forced 19 Miles turnovers, converting them into 14 points, while holding the Golden Bears to just 20 percent shooting from three-point range in the second half.
Miles was led by Cameron Jernigan, who finished with 13 points, but CSU limited consistent scoring options down the stretch, especially during key late-game possessions.
CLOSING STRONG
In a game that featured eight lead changes and seven ties, the Marauders showed poise in the final minutes, knocking down key shots and free throws to seal the victory in front of a small but loud home crowd.
Central State returns to action Monday in another tough game vs Tuskegee while looking to build on this momentum as conference play intensifies.
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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.