TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee University Men's Basketball earned a dominant 78-61 victory over Central State on Saturday afternoon, inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
The win ended a two-game losing streak and put the Golden Tigers at 7-8 overall and 5-4 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
The game started with Tuskegee establishing an early lead. The Golden Tigers' offense was led by RJ Walker and Kevin Sesberry, who were aggressive in attacking the early, combining for 20 points in the first half.
Central State struggled to find its rhythm offensively, with Tuskegee's defense forcing several turnovers. The Golden Tigers capitalized on these turnovers, converting them into quick points.
By the 6:00 mark of the first half, Tuskegee had extended its lead to 27-19, thanks in part to strong balance play on both ends.
Central State made a brief push, hitting a couple of key baskets to cut the lead to 27-20, but Tuskegee answered back closing the half, with five points in the last three minutes from Chip Culpepper.
Tuskegee came out of halftime with a clear focus on extending their lead. After trading baskets over the first few minutes of play, Sesberry put TU up 43-32 at the 15:42 mark to start the final push to earn the win.
Central State struggled offensively throughout the game, shooting just 35.8 percent from the field, including 36 percent from three-point range.
The Golden Tigers' defense was active, forcing 17 turnovers, which they capitalized on for fast break opportunities. The second half saw Tuskegee stretch its lead to as much as 19 points, effectively putting the game out of reach for the visiting Marauders.
Sesberry led the way offensively with another strong game, scoring a team-high 24 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Kusamae Draper added 17 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Rodney Walker Jr. contributed a solid effort for Tuskegee, scoring 14 points, five steals, and three asssists. Meanwhile, D'Anthony Pennington was efficient with 10 points, six assists, and three steals.
Central State was led by Brandon Scott, who finished with 23 points, followed by 12 points from Steven Key II and 11 from Isaiah Daniel.
Up Next
Tuskegee will resume play on Monday, January 20 at home once again inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center. The Golden Tigers will host Kentucky State on Monday afternoon, starting at 3 p.m.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Men's Basketball, visit GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
