Benedict Beats Central State in SIAC Tournament

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Benedict) – When the Benedict Tigers beat Central State in Columbia in December, the Tigers held the Marauders to a season-low 30.8 percent shooting. The Tigers used that same defensive effort on Tuesday in the 2017 SIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament to take a 68-60 victory and advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Benedict, now 16-11 overall, held the Marauders to 40.4 percent shooting, including 38.7 percent in the second half. Benedict advances to take on LeMoyne-Owen on Thursday at 4:15 p.m.Eastern in the Bill Harris Arena. Benedict took a 14-point win over the Magicians in Columbia on Jan. 7 in their only meeting this season.

The Tigers shot 61 percent in the first half to take a 35-24 lead at the half. Despite their poor shooting from the floor, the Marauders outscored Benedict 36-33 in the second half.

Brandon Morris, the SIAC Player of the Year, led Benedict with 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Kel Robin added 13 points while matching his season-high with seven rebounds. Umar Frost scored 11 points and Quayshun Hawkins chipped in with 10 points.

Dwight Richards Jr. led Central State with 21 points, 15 coming in the second half.

The Tigers had a 13-point lead, 55-42, after a Quiron Cooke layup with 8:01 left to play, but couldn’t expand the lead. Central State would cut the lead to six points, 59-53, on a jumper by Richardson with 4:16 on the clock. Frost scored inside on a nice pass from Hawkins to give the Tigers a 63-55 lead with two minutes left. After the Marauders made a free throw, Morris scored on a fast-break with another assist from Hawkins to push the lead up to nine points, 65-56, with a minute and a half left.

The Tigers blocked a season-high seven shots against the Marauders, with Morris and Frost each swatting away two shots.