TUSKEGEE, Ala. ^__ Tuskegee men's basketball team is set to begin its SIAC Championship run as the No. 2 seed in the West Division, hosting No. 7 seed from the East Division, Benedict, on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
 
The Golden Tigers enter the contest at 13-13 overall and 11-9 in SIAC play, while Benedict comes in with a 6-21 overall record and a 6-14 mark in the conference. The winner of this matchup will advance to the quarterfinals at Forbes Arena on the campus of Morehouse College.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Mar. 1
Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Tuskegee, Ala. (Daniel "Chappie" James Center)
Watch Live: Golden Tiger Sports Network (GTSN)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
 
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (13-13, 11-9 SIAC)
Tuskegee heads into the postseason with one of the strongest defensive units in the SIAC, allowing just 63.5 points per game while holding opponents to 38.5% shooting from the field and 28.7% from three-point range. The Golden Tigers also boast an advantage in rebounding, outrebounding opponents by an average margin of 2.2 per game.
 
Offensively, the team has been led by Kevin Sesberry, who averages 17.3 points per game, shooting 43.1% from the field and knocking down 42 three-pointers this season.
 
 Kusamae Draper has been the go-to inside presence, averaging 16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while D'Anthony Pennington adds 12.6 points per game, leading the team in three-point shooting at 36.8%.
 
Rodney Walker Jr. has been the primary facilitator, averaging 7.3 points, 3.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. His court vision and ability to distribute the ball have helped Tuskegee maintain an efficient offensive rhythm, leading the team in assists
 
Tuskegee is coming off a 63-61 win over LeMoyne-Owen in the regular-season finale, showing resilience down the stretch.
 
The Golden Tigers will look to replicate their defensive dominance from their previous matchup with Benedict, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on transition opportunities.
 
ABOUT BENEDICT (6-21, 6-14 SIAC)
Benedict enters the tournament on a three-game losing streak and has struggled with offensive efficiency throughout the season.
 
The Tigers average 61.7 points per game while allowing 70.0 points per contest. Their shooting struggles have been evident, as they have connected on just 39.4% of field goals and 27.2% from three-point range.
 
Parker Grant leads the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, but he has shot just 33.3% from the field. Tariq Shepherd (10.9 PPG) and Caleb Hymon (10.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG) have been the Tigers' most consistent contributors. Donte Whymns leads Benedict in rebounding with 6.7 boards per game.
 
Defensively, Benedict allows opponents to shoot 41.7% from the field and 34.4% from three, and they have struggled with ball security, averaging 15.3 turnovers per game.
 
Tuskegee and Benedict met once during the 2023-24 regular season, with the Golden Tigers securing a 66-58 victory on the road in Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 8.
 
In that game, Kevin Sesberry led Tuskegee with 18 points, while RJ Walker added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Kusamae Draper controlled the paint with 13 points and seven rebounds, and the Golden Tigers' defense held Benedict to just 36.2% shooting from the field.
 
Benedict was led by Tariq Shepherd, who scored 17 points, and Caleb Hymon, who posted 12 points and six rebounds. The Tigers struggled to generate consistent offense, shooting just 6-of-26 (23.1%) from three-point range and committing 14 turnovers, which Tuskegee converted into 17 points.
 
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Daniel "Chappie" James Center. With their strong defense and experience, the Golden Tigers will look to take care of business at home and make a deep run in the SIAC Tournament.
 
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.