TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College cruised to a 97-82 win over Middle Georgia State University on Saturday afternoon in Birthright Alumni Hall. The win moves the Tigers to 10-6 in Southern States Athletic Conference and back into a three-way tie for third in the SSAC standings.

Bailey Talley came off the bench to post career highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Stillman in both categories. He also had two blocked shots. It was his third double-double of his college career and first in SSAC action.

Stillman led for more than 37 minutes of the game, including 51-43 at the half. The Tigers' largest first-half margin was 10 points, 29-19, following a Brenden Lankford-Johnson 3-pointer with 9:20 to play. Talley paced the Tigers in the first half with 10 points and six rebounds in 11 minutes of action, and again with 10 points, six boards and 11 minutes in the second half.

Middle Georgia worked Stillman's lead down to three points, 53-50, on a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer by N'Kyzie Hawkins in the opening two minutes of the second half. However, Devin Merriweather drained two 3-pointers and swiped a steal to set up a Talley layup on an 8-0 run to give Stillman its largest lead yet, 61-50, with 15:29 remaining in the game.

A 7-0 run by Khalil Johnson pushed Stillman's lead to 20 points, 85-65, with 6:11 to play. Tomias Brand pulled up for a 3 with 2:41 left to give Stillman its largest lead of the day at 22 points, 95-73.

Both teams shot better than 50% for the game. Stillman won the battle on the boards by 11 rebounds, 33-22.

Talley's 20 points led five Tigers in double-digit scoring, as Merriweather and Johnson each scored 14. Brand and Jordan Bell each finished with 11 points, while Derrick Finklea and Jamar Jackson scored eight apiece. Finklea and Merriweather had five and four assists, respectively.

Milique Smith led Middle Georgia with 16 points, followed by Hawkins' 11 points, and 10 apiece from Pierles Brown and Brice Martin.

Around the SSAC, Loyola University (19-4, 14-2) remains atop the standings entering its trip to Stillman on Thursday, Feb. 9. Faulkner University (20-4, 12-4) remains in second place. The Tigers (14-10, 10-6) are tied in third with the University of Mobile (16-8, 10-6) and Dalton State College (14-10, 10-6) with a one game lead over Life University (16-7, 9-7).

Next up, Stillman travels to Marietta, Georgia to face Life University on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. CST.