Tuskegee, AL -- The Tuskegee University men's basketball team couldn't overcome a cold shooting night Saturday afternoon at Chappie James Arena. The Golden Tigers shot 20 percent from 3-point range (making 4-of-20 attempts) in a 67-65 loss to Miles College.
Tuskegee is 9-8 against Miles College in its last 17 games.
Senior James Eads paced The Golden Tigers with 23 points, making 8-of-20 field goals. Junior Deshawn Millington finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists and senior Myles Thomas fell one rebound short of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Miles College had the shooting advantage across the board, shooting 46.3 percent (Tuskegee was 39.3) from the floor, 33.3 percent from 3-point range, and 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the free throw line. The Golden Tigers had 27 free throw attempts -- 15 makes -- in the game.
The two teams started trading shots with each team not getting more than three points before Miles College used a 11-5 run to push its lead to 30-21 at the 4:55 mark. The Golden Bears packed it in defensively, applied tons of pressure to Eads and the pressure held him to only two points (1-of-8) in the first half.
Tuskegee trailed 30-24 at the break.
The Golden Bears pushed their lead to 12 after a dunk by Miles College's Braeden Steart to put the score at 38-26. The Golden Tigers went on a 22-16 run to tie the score at 49-49 with eight minutes remaining.
With the game tied at 49 with 8:04 to play, Eads hit a clutch 3-point shot to put the Golden Tigers up 52-49 to seize the game's momentum.
The Golden Tigers and Golden Bears battled for the lead until four made free throws by Avery Brown put Miles College ahead by four with 41 seconds left in regulation.
Eads drove to the basket and was fouled which gave Tuskegee two free throws. Following the layup the Golden Tigers faced a two point deficit with 26 seconds remaining. Eads was assisted by Millington for a fastbreak layup to tie the game at 65 with nine seconds left.
Unfortunately the efforts of the Golden Tigers were outmatched by Brown's buzzer beating shot.
The Golden Tigers continue their homestand on Monday, hosting LeMoyne-Owen College at 7:30 p.m. CST on Monday, January 20. The matchup against the Magicians (9-5, 6-3 SIAC), will be broadcast live on the Tuskegee Digital Network and is the second game in a double-header with the Tuskegee women's basketball team, who host LeMoyne-Owen men's basketball team at 5:30 p.m. CST. LeMoyne Owens and Tuskegee last played February 2019, an 82-73, defeat for the Golden Tigers in the at Chappie James.
For more information and updates throughout the season, follow the Golden Tigers on Twitter (@MYTUAthletics), Instagram (@MYTUAthletics) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GoldenTigerSports/).
