TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee men's basketball battled past Savannah State 70-65 on Thursday night inside the James Center Arena, clinching the No. 1 seed in the SIAC West Division with the victory.
In a tightly contested matchup that featured eight ties and 12 lead changes, neither team was able to create much separation through the opening 20 minutes. Savannah State carried a slim 35-33 advantage into halftime behind efficient first-half shooting, including 42.9 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
Tuskegee responded in the second half with improved defensive intensity and timely scoring. The Golden Tigers shot 41.7 percent after the break and began to attack the rim, earning repeated trips to the free throw line. With the game hanging in the balance in the final minutes, Tuskegee executed down the stretch, converting crucial free throws and defensive stops to secure the five-point win.
RJ Walker led the way with a game-high 29 points, going 13-of-14 from the free throw line while adding four rebounds and three steals.
Kusamae Draper contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, providing a steady inside presence, and
Khalil Genwright added 14 points and three assists. As a team, Tuskegee finished 28-of-42 from the charity stripe and outrebounded Savannah State 41-32.
The Golden Tigers also held a 34-28 edge in points in the paint and added 11 fast break points. Tuskegee forced key defensive stops late and limited Savannah State's perimeter efficiency in the second half, holding the Tigers to just 14.3 percent from beyond the arc after halftime.
Savannah State was led by Zyen Edwards with 11 points, while Jayvonte Landy added 10. The Tigers shot 38.8 percent overall and received 28 bench points, keeping pressure on Tuskegee throughout the night. However, late turnovers and missed opportunities in the closing minutes allowed the Golden Tigers to pull ahead.
With the win, Tuskegee secures the top spot in the West Division heading into the SIAC Tournament, giving the Golden Tigers momentum and a favorable position as postseason play approaches.
Up Next
Tuskegee will close out their 2025-26 regular season campaign with a final home game against Edward Waters, set for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday.
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.
