TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Southern States Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Game of the Week saw a dozen lead changes early, but Stillman College was not able to regain a lead in the final 20 minutes, falling to the visiting University of Tennessee Firehawks, 94-75, in the Tigers' home opener at Birthright Alumni Hall.
Stillman was led by its trio of transfers from Wiley University:
Justin Minter (16 points),
Antonio Jones (13) and
Maurice Harvey (11). Bailey Tally came off the bench to score 10 points and grab eight rebounds. He excited the crowd with a steal and fast-break dunk with about seven minutes left in the first half.
Rebounds were fairly even with UTS grabbing 31 to Stillman's 30, but that was largely due to the Firehawks shooting 62.5% in the second half. Points off turnovers were crucial with the Tigers giving up 26 points off 19 turnovers and only scoring 10 points from eight UTS turnovers.
The Firehawks had five players score in double figures, led by Kendall Wright's 18 points, Malik Tyson's 16 points and Brady Brown's 15 points and six rebounds. Tad Sively and Adarion Hudson followed with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Stillman (4-3, 2-1 SSAC) will go on the road Saturday for a SSAC game at Blue Mountain Christian University. Tipoff is 2 p.m. following the women's game.
