TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Three players scored a baker's dozen to follow
Justin Minter's 15 points as Stillman College held on for a 75-73 men's basketball victory against Middle Georgia State University in Birthright Alumni Hall on Saturday.
The win moves Stillman to 9-3 in the Southern States Athletic Conference, as it holds on at second in the SSAC standings.
Stillman jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the first six minutes following a pair of Minter 3-pointers. Pierles Brown cut Middle Georgia's deficit to single digits, 29-20, with a 3 at the nine minute mark. The next five made baskets for Stillman were 3-pointers from
Jaylon Taylor,
Jamar Jackson,
Tyler Martin,
Brenden Lankford-Johnson and
Bailey Talley. The Tigers led 51-34 at the half.
Middle Georgia used five-minute, 14-0 run to pull the game within a point, 61-60, with less than 10 minutes to play in the game. Marcus Bates Jr answered an Adarius Oliver basket to end the Tigers' drought and start a brief 6-0 Stillman run. Middle Georgia shot 57.7% in the second half, while Stillman shot only 39% after hitting 54.5% of shots in the first half.
The Tigers kept a two- or three-possession lead into the final minutes, but a Jayce Moore offensive rebound and basket with 2:40 left pulled the Knights within three, 73-70.
Momentum looked to be shifting to Middle Georgia, but Talley blocked a Jayce Moore 3-pointer and pause the Knights' brief run. Moore hit 1-of-2 free throws around the minute mark to pull within two.
Justin Minter hit a jumper with a minute left before another Oliver layup.
Both teams failed to score in the final minute of action, including a missed bonus free throw by MGA's JJ Richards with three seconds left. Jackson grabbed the Tigers' rebound to secure the win.
Antonio Jones, Bates and Talley each scored 13 to follow Minter's 15 points. Brown finished with 22 points to lead MGA and all players, while Oliver had 17. Moore and Millique Smith each scored 11.
Stillman (12-7, 9-3) will close its three-game home stand Monday, Jan. 29 when it hosts Blue Mountain Christian University at 7:30 p.m.
