Benedict Rallies to Top Tuskegee, 63-56

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (Benedict) – The Benedict College Tigers held Tuskegee to just five points over the final seven minutes and rallied to take a 63-56 victory in a SIAC men’s basketball contest on Wednesday night.

Brandon Morris led the Tigers, now 6-6 overall and 3-1 in the SIAC, with 17 points, 13 coming in the second half. Christopher Spencer added 15 points, while Keon Scott had a double-double with 11 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Quayshun Hawkins also chipped in 11 points, nine in the second half.

Tuskegee fell to 1-12 overall and 0-4 in the SIAC.

Tuskegee led by as many as 13 points in the first half before the Tigers cut the lead to four points, 30-26, at the break. The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 34-33, on a pair of free throws by Hawkins with 16:23 left in the game. The Tuskegee Golden Tigers pulled ahead 51-48 with 7:05 remaining on a free throw. Kel Robin cut the lead to one point on a jumper, then Morris gave the Tigers the lead, 52-51, on a layup with 6:18 on the clock. A layup by Hawkins gave Benedict a 59-53 lead with 2:26 left. A pair of free throws by Spencer pushed the lead to 63-54 with 14 seconds left before Tuskegee closed out the game with a layup for the final points.

Benedict returns home for its first home game since Dec. 3 when the Tigers take on LeMoyne-Owen College on Saturday at 3 p.m.