Benedict Advances to SIAC Championship Game

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jordan Smith scored 20 points, making six 3-pointers, to help lead the Benedict College Tigers to a 60-58 victory over Morehouse College on Saturday in the Bill Harris Arena, sending Benedict into the SIAC Tournament championship game. Benedict (18-11) will face Lane College (17-11) in the men’s championship at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Lane upset Paine, the No. 1 seed, in another semifinal on Saturday. The Tigers got a jumper from Andrew Crawford with 30 seconds left to take a 57-56 lead, and they were able to hang on for the victory. Morehouse missed a layup on their end of the court and Roberto Mantovani grabbed the rebound. Brennan Reynard hit two free throws with nine seconds left for a 59-56 lead. Morehouse turned the ball over trying to inbounds the ball and Mantovani added one free throw for a 60-56 lead. Morehouse hit two free throws with three seconds left for the final margin. Smith hit 15 of his 20 points in the first half and Benedict had a 29-27 lead at the break. Mantovani added 11 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Crawford also scored 11 points. Tyrius Walker led the Maroon Tigers (16-12) with 20 points. Robert Askew had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Javarius Gay also contributed with 12 points. The Tigers started the game hot, and led 23-9 after a layup by Kel Robin with 8:33 left to play. The Maroon Tigers were able to chip away and cut the lead to 29-27 at the half. The second half was tight, but Morehouse never took the lead until a 3-pointer by Javarius Gay for a 54-53 lead with 2:03 left to play. Benedict had a key offensive series on the next possession, missing three shots and getting the offensive rebound, including a put-back by Mantovani with 1:08 left. Morehouse regained the lead on a jumper by Gay with 42 seconds left. Crawford answered with his jumper to put the Tigers ahead for good.