ATLANTA, Ga. — Tuskegee men's basketball bounced back in conference play with a 59-51 road victory over SIAC rival Clark Atlanta on Monday night at L.S. Epps Gym, regaining momentum behind a strong second-half performance and disciplined defensive effort.
Tuskegee took control early, building a 27-21 lead at halftime after holding Clark Atlanta to 25.0 percent shooting in the opening half. The Golden Tigers set the tone defensively from the start, limiting clean looks from the perimeter and forcing tough shots while grinding out points at the free-throw line.
Clark Atlanta cut into the margin early in the second half, but Tuskegee responded with its best offensive stretch of the night, shooting 61.9 percent from the field after halftime. The Golden Tigers pushed the lead to double digits midway through the period and maintained control down the stretch with timely stops and efficient possessions.
RJ Walker led Tuskegee with 15 points, adding four rebounds and three assists while logging all 40 minutes. Khalil Genwright recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with a block and a steal. Derrek Bolton III added 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting, including two three-pointers, while Anthony Wright chipped in nine points and two blocks.
Tuskegee finished the game shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range, while holding Clark Atlanta to 30.8 percent shooting overall and just 13.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Golden Tigers also won the rebounding battle, 41-33, and scored eight second-chance points.
Clark Atlanta was led by Chase Hill's 23 points, but the Panthers struggled to find consistency offensively, shooting 16-for-52 from the floor and 3-for-22 from three-point range. Tuskegee's defense forced 13 turnovers and limited Clark Atlanta's transition opportunities throughout the contest.
With the win, Tuskegee improves to 15-3 overall and 14-2 in SIAC play, while Clark Atlanta falls to 12-6 overall and 9-5 in conference action. The Golden Tigers will look to build on the road victory as conference play continues.
Up Next
With the road win over Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee continues to build momentum in SIAC play and will now turn its focus to its next challenge. The Golden Tigers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when they travel to Morehouse College for another key conference road contest. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, inside Forbes Arena, as Tuskegee looks to carry its defensive intensity into the weekend matchup.
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