FORT VALLEY, Ga. __ Tuskegee men's basketball faced off against Fort Valley State in a tightly contested SIAC battle on Tuesday evening inside the HPE Arena.
Despite a valiant effort, Tuskegee fell short in a nail-biting 66-65 loss. The defeat brings the Golden Tigers' record to 10-10 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Tuskegee displayed a strong offensive presence throughout the game, shooting an impressive 50 perfect from the field, converting 26 of their 52 shot attempts. However, they struggled from beyond the arc, missing all 10 of their three-point attempts.
Defensively, the Golden Tigers forced 12 turnovers, recorded eight steals, and notched one block but was ultimately outscored by the Wildcats State in critical moments.
The game opened with Tuskegee quickly establishing a lead in the first half, building an advantage as large as seven points midway through the period.
However, Fort Valley State clawed back, utilizing a 9-0 scoring run late in the half to edge ahead by one point at halftime, 28-27.
In the second half, the game remained a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads and playing strong on both ends of the court.
Tuskegee found success in the paint, scoring 46 points down low compared to Fort Valley State's 16.
Forward Kusamae Draper had another strong game with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed four rebounds. Draper was instrumental in keeping the Golden Tigers competitive, scoring key baskets and converting critical free throws.
Kevin Sesberry had a standout performance as well, pouring in a game-high 26 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Sesberry's ability to finish around the rim and knock down free throws kept Tuskegee within striking distance throughout the game.
Defensively, the Golden Tigers were anchored by Noah Goines, who contributed six rebounds and a steal. Tuskegee's pressure defense forced several mistakes from the Wildcats, turning turnovers into eight fast-break points.
Fort Valley State found their offensive rhythm late in the game, particularly from beyond the arc.
They hit nine three-pointers, including a crucial late-game triple by Sayerr Senghore, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jaylen Jackson led Fort Valley State with 24 points, including several clutch free throws in the final minutes.
With under 10 seconds remaining and the score tied at 65, Fort Valley State's Senghore was fouled and sank one of two free throws to give his team the lead.
Tuskegee had a final chance to win the game, but Sesberry's contested floater fell short as the clock expired.
Up Next
Tuskegee will look to bounce back as they continue their conference slate. The Golden Tigers host Miles on Saturday, February 8 at 2:30 p.m. inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center, set for broadcast on HBCU Go.
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.
