MEMPHIS, Tenn. __ In a thrilling regular-season finale, the Tuskegee men's basketball team edged past conference opponent LeMoyne-Owen with a narrow 63-61 victory on the road at Bruce-Johnson Hall.
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With this win, the Golden Tigers moved to an even 13-13 overall and 11-9 in SIAC play, securing a spot as one of the top contenders heading into postseason competition.
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The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with the two teams tied 11 times and exchanging the lead on seven occasions.
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Both squads demonstrated defensive tenacity and resilience, with Tuskegee ultimately outlasting their opponents down the stretch.
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The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Tuskegee and LeMoyne-Owen trading baskets early.
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LeMoyne-Owen took a quick 4-0 lead thanks to a jumper and layup by Philpps Josephs. However, the Golden Tigers responded with a jumper from
Noah Goines and a fast-break layup by
Kevin Sesberry to cut the deficit to 4-2.
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The pace picked up as the teams exchanged runs, with neither side able to build a substantial lead.
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Sesberry carried the offensive load for Tuskegee, scoring 14 points in the first half alone, while
Kusamae Draper contributed key rebounds and defensive stops.
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LeMoyne-Owen's Khalil Genwright and Austin Jordan combined for crucial three-pointers, keeping the home team within reach.
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The first half ended with the teams deadlocked at 31-31, setting the stage for an intense second half.
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Tuskegee opened the second half with a quick layup from
D'Anthony Pennington to take a 33-31 lead.
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LeMoyne-Owen's Abdoul Sacko responded with a layup to tie the game once again. The two teams continued to trade leads, with standout performances from Tuskegee's
Rodney Walker Jr., who notched seven assists, and Goines, who provided a key spark off the bench.
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Sesberry's consistent scoring kept the Golden Tigers in contention, and the team's defense held LeMoyne-Owen to a shooting percentage of just 41.2% from the field.
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Down the stretch, Tuskegee's resilience paid off as they leaned on key defensive stops, including a crucial steal by Walker with just over a minute remaining.
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In the final seconds, it was Sesberry who delivered the game-winning basket, driving to the hoop for a layup as time expired, securing a dramatic 63-61 victory for the Golden Tigers.
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Sesberry led all scorers with a game-high 26 points, shooting 8-15 from the field and 9-12 from the free-throw line, followed by Goines who added 12 points and four rebounds. Draper recorded nine points and eight rebounds, providing a strong presence on
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With the regular season complete, Tuskegee now turns its focus to the upcoming SIAC Tournament, where they will look to build on their momentum and make a deep postseason run.
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