In the fourth annual NBA HBCU Classic, the Tuskegee Golden Tigers came out on the winning side, defeating the Morehouse Maroon Tigers 68-55.
The Golden Tigers’ win snaps a three-game losing streak, improving to 11-12 overall and 9-8 against SIAC competition.
Meanwhile, Morehouse dropped its second straight contest, falling to 13-12 overall and 10-7 in SIAC play.
Tuskegee’s Kusamae Draper led all scorers with 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field while adding 15 rebounds. Kevin Sesberry followed closely behind with 19 points.
D’Anthony Pennington posted a full line with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
Sincere Key led the Maroon Tigers off the bench recording 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Amahn Decker fell short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
After a slow, jittery start to the game with both teams struggling to find the range from deep (combined to shoot 3/20 from three in the first half), both teams settled in making their mark in the paint.
Playing each other even through 13 minutes in the first half, Tuskegee closed on a high note, outscoring Morehouse 17-6 in a 7:32 stretch. This included a 7-0 run in the final two minutes to take a 30-22 lead into halftime.
Sesberry was the Golden Tigers’ top contributor during this run, scoring eight of the team’s 17 points (12 first-half points).
Rebounding was also key to Tuskegee’s building its first-half lead. It outpaced Morehouse 23-18, including a 9-4 clip on the offensive glass.
Beginning the second half, Draper began to make his mark for the Golden Tigers, scoring eight of the team’s first 13 points as the team built a 43-31 lead through the first eight minutes.
The Golden Tigers never let up, building a 14-point lead and fending off multiple Morehouse runs to finish the game victorious.
After the game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about where the league stood on the HBCU event during All-Star Weekend.
“We’re incredibly proud of the HBCU Classic,” he said Saturday. “We’ve been doing that for a number of years now. It’s different schools every year coming in just highlighting what’s happening at HBCUs. We love our relationship with the HBCUs and are pleased about how that’s going.”
Harold Ellis, Morehouse Director of Athletics, told the TNT broadcast that this was the largest basketball game in Morehouse College history, and a huge opportunity for the players with NBA scouts in attendance as well.
“We’re gonna get one opportunity to make a good impression,” Ellis said. “No matter what you’ve done the whole year, you come here today, and you play well; all it takes is one scout to see you, and that can take you to a different level.”
Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor said playing in the HBCU Classic was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Along with the team, members of the administration, band and cheerleaders all traveled for All-Star Weekend.
Being on the national stage and representing the university in a high first-class manner bodes well for them, Taylor said.
“This is how you increase membership, viewership, HBCU basketball and the knowledge of players,” Taylor said. “If you love basketball, you wouldn’t rather be in any other situation rather than what we’re in this weekend.”