TALLADEGA, Ala. - Stillman College pulled even for the season (3-3) by taking down the Talladega College Tornadoes, 69-62, on their home court Saturday afternoon in the Dr. Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center.
Stillman fell behind early, 7-2, but held Talladega within six points in the first 10 minutes of action. With less than seven minutes to play in the first half, Brendan Lankford-Johnson dishes an assist to Tomias Brand 3-pointer that cut the Tornadoes' lead to a point, 20-19. Jalen Taylor gave the Tigers their first lead moments later, 21-20. Talladega pushed back in front, but Daviyon Dennis hit a 3 with 2:12 left to give Stillman a 28-27 lead. Dega closed the half on a 5-0 run to lead 32-28.
Coming off a 21-point game against Oakwood, Brand paced Stillman with 11 points in the first half. He finished with 13 points.
The Tigers opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take a brief lead before both teams traded leads. Lankford-Johnson hit a 3 with 14:14 left in the game to put Stillman back in front, 40-38. It proved to be the last lead change. Tre Simmons pulled Dega within a point, 42-41, but Stillman rolled out a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to lead by a dozen, 55-53.
Khalil Johnson hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 15 seconds to secure the win and hold off Talladega's late surge.
Johnson, Lankford-Johnson and Marcus Bates Jr each scored 11 points for Stillman.
Derrick Finklea added 10.
Keshawn Pegues led Talladega with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Simmons had 13 points.
Stillman (3-3, 1-1 SSAC) will take Ann extended break before hosting Dalton State College on Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
