JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Tuskegee men's basketball team fell to Edward Waters in a thrilling SIAC contest on Monday evening, in overtime fashion by a score of 72-67 at the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex.
The loss drops Tuskegee to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
The game saw a dramatic back-and-forth from the opening tip, with both teams fighting hard throughout the first half.
The Golden Tigers struggled offensively early, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field in the first half.
Despite this, they managed to hold a 31-30 lead going into halftime, with key contributions from
Kusamae Draper and
Kevin Sesberry, who led the team in scoring, both with eleven points in the first 20 minutes.
The second half was equally competitive. Tuskegee came out strong, maintaining their narrow lead and even extending it at one point.
With 3:31 remaining in regulation, Tuskegee had a six-point lead, 39-33. However, Edward Waters responded with a scoring burst that saw them tie the game at 39-39 with under a minute to play.
The final moments of regulation were intense, with both teams trading crucial baskets. Edward Waters' key players, including Ja'Kobe Williams, made clutch plays to push the game into overtime.
In overtime, Tuskegee's shooting woes continued, as they managed just one field goal in the extra period.
Despite getting to the free-throw line, where they were able to capitalize on several opportunities, the Golden Tigers couldn't close out the game.
Edward Waters' defense, combined with timely scoring from players like Williams and Prince Davies III, allowed them to pull away for the 72-67 win.
Sesberry was a standout for Tuskegee, leading the team with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Draper added 20 points and eight rebounds.
Dylan Cambridge also played well, finishing with a near double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds. However, the team struggled with turnovers, especially in the second half, where they committed 16 turnovers throughout the game.
Defensively, Tuskegee managed to hold Edward Waters to just 36.4 percent shooting from the field, but the Tigers' success on the glass and at the free-throw line allowed them to overcome the Golden Tigers in the final minutes of play.
Edward Waters finished with 72 points, despite being outshot in field goals and three-pointers by Tuskegee.
The loss is a tough one for the Golden Tigers, but they will look to bounce back in their next conference matchup.
Up Next
Tuskegee's next contest will see them conclude their road stretch this weekend against LeMoyne-Owen on Saturday, January 11 at 3 p.m. inside of Bruce-Johnson Hall.
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.
