ALBANY, Ga. — Tuskegee closed out its final road game of the regular season in strong fashion on Monday night, earning a 67-55 victory over Albany State at The Arena at West Campus.
The Golden Tigers used a balanced offensive attack and a dominant second-half surge to pull away from the Golden Rams, improving to 18-6 overall and 7-5 in SIAC play heading into the final week of the regular season.
Tuskegee led 24-29 midway through the first half before settling in defensively and finishing the opening period strong. Despite trailing 29-26 at the break, the Golden Tigers shot efficiently and limited Albany State's second-chance opportunities to keep the game within reach. The momentum shifted quickly after halftime.
Tuskegee erupted in the second half, shooting an impressive 62.9 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes while holding Albany State to just 33.3 percent shooting after the break. The Golden Tigers outscored the Golden Rams 41-26 in the second half to seize control and create separation down the stretch.
Kusamae Draper led the way with a game-high 24 points, shooting 11-for-15 from the field while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Khalil Genwright contributed 14 points and five rebounds, while
RJ Walker added 12 points and five boards. The Golden Tigers shot 54.0 percent from the field overall and went 13-for-17 from the free-throw line.
Tuskegee controlled key statistical areas, outscoring Albany State 50-26 in the paint and 13-9 in fast-break points. The Golden Tigers also forced 14 Albany State turnovers while committing 13 of their own.
Albany State was led by Jeremiah Evans with 14 points and Cameron Evans with 13. The Golden Rams shot 37.3 percent from the field and were held to just 5-for-21 from three-point range. Albany State finished 12-for-17 from the free-throw line and recorded 26 points in the paint.
Tuskegee's defensive intensity proved to be the difference in the second half, as the Golden Tigers allowed just one lead change in the contest and controlled the tempo over the final stretch to secure the road victory.
Up Next
The Golden Tigers will now return home to close out the regular season with a pair of home games this week, beginning Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. against Savannah State inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
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