BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 8, 2014) – The score was tied at halftime, 39-39, and when regulation ended the score was still tied, 75-75. It was a different story in overtime; Tuskegee outscored Fort Valley State at the Bill Harris Arena, 13-5, to take home the 2014 SIAC Men's Basketball Tournament crown.

"I have guys that don't mind rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever it takes to win a game," head coach Leon Douglas said.

Graham Olatunji and Richard Dixon netted 18 points and 17 points, respectively. Javier McKinney sinked 15 points and Camden Foster added 13 points for the Golden Tigers.

Corey Hunter's 20 points led Fort Valley State (20-9). Brandon Davey added 17 points and Ralph Wilson tallied 12 points.

The Golden Tigers' bench contributed 45 points and the Wildcats' 40 points.

Earning all-tournament honors for Tuskegee were Graham Olatunji and Richard Dixon. Dixon was named MVP for the tournament. Leon Douglas was named the tournament's most outstanding coach.

Dixon averaged 21 points and 8.3 rebounds in the three tournament games. Olatunji, an all-conference selectee, averaged 13.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. Dixon, an all-SIAC performer, earned MVP honors coming off the bench for the Golden Tigers.

The Golden Tigers averaged 86 points per game in the three tournament games. They defeated Miles 80-72 on Wednesday, a 90-68 win over Kentucky State on Friday and an 88-80 overtime victory over FVSU in the championship game on Saturday.

In the only meeting between the two teams this year, prior to the championship game, Fort Valley State defeated Tuskegee 68-62 on January 9, 2014 in Fort Valley, Ga.

The 2014 SIAC title marks the sixth conference championship for the Tuskegee Golden Tigers, the second title for Head Coach Leon Douglas at Tuskegee. Douglas' 2010 team captured the title in Atlanta, defeating Clark Atlanta.

Tuskegee, now 18-11, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The NCAA Division II committee announced pairings and seedings on Sunday night. The Golden Tigers will face the Moccasins of Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 4 p.m.CT (5 p.m. ET) at the Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern. The Golden Tigers are seeded #8 and the host Moccasins are seeded #1.

The Golden Tigers' last NCAA National Tournament appearance was in 2010.


— Story by Arnold L. Houston
© 2014 Tuskegee University