TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Second place in the Southern States Athletic Conference remains with Stillman College after an 80-72 win over Blue Mountain Christian University on Monday night in Birthright Alumni Hall. 

Only seven players saw action for Stillman, with five scoring in double figures. Marcus Bates Jr posted a double-double 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with five assists, to lead Stillman to its third-straight win. 

Stillman led by seven in the first five minutes, but Trae Jones scored eight-straight points to give the Toppers their first lead, 13-12. After a pair of ties and six lead changes, Stillman used an 11-2 run to lead by eight points, 35-27, with 1:28 left in the first half. BMCU worked it to 35-32 

Blue Mountain went up by seven, 53-46, midway through the second half. but Bates hit a pair of 3s to help set up an Antonio Jones layup to tie the game at 54. It was the first of four ties in the next five minutes before a Bates dunk sparked a 10-0 run to secure the win.

Jamar Jackson and Jones scored 16 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench, while starters Bailey Talley and Brenden Lankford-Johnson each scored 13. 

Trae Jones led BMCU with 15 points, and Keevin Etienne had a double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds. Three other Toppers scored in double digits. 

Stillman (13-7, 10-3 SSAC) will travel to New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 1 to play Loyola University at 7:30 p.m.