TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Five Tigers scored in double figures Monday afternoon as Stillman College men's basketball snapped a three-game skid with a 96-84 conference win over Loyola University (La.). 

Louisiana native Bailey Talley led all players with 25 points and 11 rebounds to dominate his hometown team in his home gym for the second-straight year. Marcus Bates followed with 19 points, eight boards and five assists, while Brenden Lankford-Johnson had 17 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Martin and Justin Minter finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

Both teams shot 50% or better in the game with Stillman draining 56.1% of its baskets, including 9-of-19 (47.4%) from 3-point range. The Tigers out-rebounded the Wolfpack by 10 (37-27). 

Lankford-Johnson and Martin hit back-to-back 3s to open the game, as Stillman went on to control the first half. After Eddie Burgess threw down a dunk for Loyola to make it a five-point game, 20-15, Stillman went on an 11-2 run to lead by 14 points, 31-17. 

Aided by seven straight foul calls against Stillman, Loyola put together a 21-7 run over an eight-minute stretch to make it a two-point game, 40-38. Loyola hit 6-of-7 free throws through the run, including a pair by Braelee Albert with 1:56 to play in the half to make it a one-possession game. Stillman held a narrow 44-42 lead at halftime. 

After three ties in the first four minutes of the second half, Burgess gave Loyola a 53-51 lead with 15:06 left in the game. Talley hit consecutive 3s around the 11 minute mark to tie the game and retake the lead. He drew a foul on the second 3 and knocked down a free throw to put Stillman in front 66-62. Loyola briefly led again, but a Talley layup sparked a 16-4 run to put Stillman in front by 10 points, 82-72, on an and-one layup by Minter with 4:28 to play.

The Tigers cruised to victory in the final four minutes, hitting 3-for-3 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line. 

With the win, Stillman (7-6, 4-2) moves into a tie for fourth in the Southern States Athletic Conference standings with the University of Mobile. The Tigers will take a break until Jan. 4, 2024 when they travel to Thomas University (3-7, 3-2 SSAC) in Thomasville, Georgia. The next home game is Jan. 10, 2024 against Dalton State at 7:30 p.m.