LAKELAND, Fla. - Stillman College sophomore transfer
Maurice Harvey led all players with 29 points early Friday afternoon, but it was not enough for the Tigers in a 96-77 loss at the Southern States Athletic Conference / Sun Conference Challenge, hosted by Southeastern University.
Stillman led early, 16-8, following a pair of
Khalil Johnson 3-pointers. After swapping leads in the first half, Ave Maria's Jonathan Effertz hit a pair of 3-pointers to give the Gryenes a 29-28 lead as part of a 12-0 run. The Ave Maria lead grew to 44-32 at the half.
The Tigers shot 50% from the floor in the second half, led by Harvey's 22 second-half points. Ave Maria (4-0) rarely missed, shooting 73.3% (22-of-30) from the floor and 66.7% (6-of-9) from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes.
Bailey Talley posted his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds for Stillman.
Michael Taylor followed with nine points off the bench, while Johnson finished with eight and
Brenden Lankford-Johnson scored seven.
Three Ave Maria players scored 20 or more points, led by Nick Filchner's 28 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Klekas also had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Effertz finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Stillman (0-2) will have a week off from competition before traveling to Oakwood University in Huntsville on Nov. 11. The Tigers will play their first six games on the road before coming home on Nov. 29 against Tennessee Southern.
