HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. - Two buzzer-beaters extended the game, but Stillman College was unable to complete its rally Thursday night, falling on a neutral court to Tougaloo College, 93-86. The game was the first of two games for the weekend in the Dr. Ishmell Edwards Founder's Day Classic at Rust College.
The Tigers fell behind 10-2 in the first four minutes of action and trailed throughout the first half. It was 36-26 Bulldogs at the half.
Stillman fought back from a 17-point hole, trailing 48-31 with 13:35 remaining in regulation.
With 10:06 to play, Brendan Lankford-Johnson made it a 3-point game, 50-47, but Tougaloo worked its lead back to nine.
Jamar Jackson hit a 3 with 1:12 remaining to pull Stillman within two points, 67-65. After a pair of missed shots by Tougaloo, Marcus Bates grabbed a rebound to give Stillman the final possession. Finklea drove to the basket as time expired to tie the game, 67-67.
Tougaloo maintained its lead in the first overtime, but Talley made it a one-point game, 76-75 with 14 seconds left. After Trajan Fielder hit a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs,
Khalil Johnson missed his first free throw for the Tigers. Johnson then missed on purpose, grabbed the rebound and passed it to Jackson on the right wing for game-tying 3-pointer as overtime expired, 78-78.
Stillman's heroics ran short in the second overtime though, as Tougaloo once again worked its lead to nine points and held on for the seven-point win after 50 minutes of play.
Finklea led Stillman with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Brand and Jackson scored 14. Talley added a double-double 11 points and 12 rebounds. Lankford-Johnson and
Khalil Johnson each scored eight.
Cameron Copeland paced Tougaloo with 36 points. Fielder finished with 16 points. Antonio Patterson and Cameron Woodall each scored 12 for the Bulldogs.
Stillman (0-2) will meet Rust College on Friday at 7 p.m. in its final game of Rust's Founder's Day Classic.
