MORROW, Ga. — The top-seeded Tuskegee men's basketball team opened its postseason run in dominant fashion Wednesday evening, defeating No. 4 seed Benedict 70-53 in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 SIAC Basketball Championship presented by Toyota at the Clayton County Convocation Center.
With the win, Tuskegee improves to 21-6 overall (19-5 SIAC) and advances to the semifinal round, where the Golden Tigers will face the winner of No. 2 seed Clark Atlanta and No. 3 seed LeMoyne-Owen on Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m. ET. The game will also be played at the Clayton County Convocation Center and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Tuskegee used a strong second-half surge to pull away after a tightly contested opening period. The Golden Tigers trailed early before settling in offensively and defensively to take control of the game. Benedict carried a 30-26 lead into halftime, but Tuskegee responded with a dominant second half, outscoring the Tigers 44-23 over the final 20 minutes.
Sophomore guard Roy Obsaint led Tuskegee with a career-high 23 points, knocking down 6-for-9 from three-point range while also grabbing nine rebounds and recording three steals. All-SIAC guard Khalil Genwright added 15 points, including 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while also contributing three rebounds and three assists.
Senior guard RJ Walker chipped in 12 points and four steals, while SIAC Player of the Year Kusamae Draper finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists, giving Tuskegee four players in double figures.
Tuskegee shot 46.7 percent from the field and was especially effective from long range, converting 11-for-21 three-point attempts (52.4 percent). The Golden Tigers also controlled the glass with a 32-23 rebounding advantage and forced 19 Benedict turnovers, turning defensive pressure into scoring opportunities.
After trailing at the break, Tuskegee caught fire in the second half, shooting 55 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range. The Golden Tigers also converted 14-for-18 free throws in the final period to help create separation.
Benedict was led by Caleb Hymon, who finished with 11 points, while Malachi Chavis added 10 points and Christian Willis added eight. The Tigers shot 39.2 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from long range, struggling to keep pace with Tuskegee's offensive surge after halftime.
The game featured four lead changes and one tie, but Tuskegee's defensive adjustments in the second half proved decisive as the Golden Tigers limited Benedict to just 30.8 percent shooting in the second half.
Tuskegee also capitalized on Benedict mistakes, scoring 25 points off turnovers while adding 10 second chance points and six fast break points. With momentum on its side, Tuskegee now turns its attention to the semifinal round as the Golden Tigers look to continue their postseason run in the SIAC Championship.
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