COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Tuskegee men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 71-65 road win over Benedict on Saturday afternoon at HRC Arena, using a strong first half and timely execution down the stretch to secure the SIAC victory.
Tuskegee set the tone early, opening the game with pace and efficiency on the offensive end. The Golden Tigers built a 38-17 advantage at halftime, fueled by balanced scoring and active defense that limited Benedict's early rhythm.
Tuskegee shot 48.3 percent from the field in the first half and connected on four three-pointers while holding Benedict to just 26.1 percent shooting before the break.
Benedict responded after halftime, finding success attacking the basket and knocking down perimeter shots to cut into the deficit. The Tigers outscored Tuskegee 48-33 in the second half, but the Golden Tigers stayed composed, making key free throws and defensive stops in the final minutes to preserve the win.
Kusamae Draper led all scorers with 22 points for Tuskegee, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and adding four rebounds and three assists. Khalil Genwright followed with 17 points, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc and going a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.
Derrek Bolton III contributed 11 points, while RJ Walker added nine points and three assists. Tuskegee finished the game shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 81.5 percent at the free-throw line.
Benedict was led by Christian Willis, who scored 14 points, and Tareeq Anderson, who added 13 points. Landon Jeffries and Caleb Hynson chipped in 10 points apiece as the Tigers shot 47.1 percent from the field in the second half to make the contest competitive late. Benedict finished the game with 25 rebounds and 27 bench points.
Tuskegee held advantages in points in the paint, 30-26, and fast-break scoring, 13-7, while committing just 12 turnovers. The Golden Tigers improved to 17-4 overall and 16-3 in SIAC play with the win, while Benedict fell to 8-10 overall and 8-10 in conference action.
Up Next
Tuskegee returns to action next week as the Golden Tigers continue conference play on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Spring Hill at 7:30 p.m.
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.
