MORROW, Ga. — The Tuskegee men's basketball team punched its ticket to the SIAC Championship game Friday evening with a convincing 70-53 victory over Clark Atlanta in the semifinal round of the 2026 SIAC Basketball Championship at the Clayton County Convocation Center.
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The Golden Tigers used a strong first half and balanced scoring to build a double-digit advantage early and never trailed as they advanced to Saturday's title game.
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Tuskegee came out aggressive on both ends of the floor, taking control early behind efficient shooting and defensive pressure. The Golden Tigers opened the game on a scoring run and built a 38-18 lead by halftime, limiting Clark Atlanta to just 33 percent shooting in the opening period.
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Clark Atlanta attempted to rally in the second half, outscoring Tuskegee 35-32 after the break, but the Golden Tigers maintained control throughout the final 20 minutes to secure the 17-point victory.
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Kusamae Draper led the Golden Tigers with 20 points, going 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 10-of-12 from the free throw line, while also adding six rebounds and four assists.
RJ Walker and
Anthony Wright each added 17 points to provide Tuskegee with a balanced offensive attack. Wright also recorded a strong all-around performance with 11 rebounds, giving him a double-double.
Khalil Genwright chipped in nine points, while
Derrek Bolton III added four points and three rebounds.
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As a team, Tuskegee shot 48.9 percent from the field (22-of-45) and held Clark Atlanta to 32.7 percent shooting (17-of-52). The Golden Tigers also dominated on the glass with a 40-32 rebounding advantage and controlled the paint with 34 points inside.
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Clark Atlanta was led by Jared Washington, who finished with 17 points, while Ny'Mire Little added eight points and Jaden Martin contributed six points and five rebounds.
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Tuskegee capitalized on second-chance opportunities, recording 18 second-chance points, while Clark Atlanta finished with 17 points off turnovers.
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With the win, Tuskegee advances to the SIAC Championship game, where the Golden Tigers will face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 seed Morehouse (East Division) and No. 2 seed Miles (West Division).
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Up Next
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clayton County Convocation Center in Morrow, Georgia. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
