Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - East Division front runner Stillman College claimed the only men's basketball victory of the day for the East with an 80-68 win over the University of Virgin Islands Friday night to close Day 1 of the HBCU Athletic Conference Crossover in Birthright Alumni Hall.
Jeremiah Miller scored a season-high 29 points to lead Stillman in its first game since Dec. 18. The 29-point, 10-rebound and six-assist performance topped his 26 points scored against Fisk University in the last HBCUAC home game in November.
Clavin Finch Jr., also had a double-double for Stillman with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
UVI took an early lead, but Miller followed a layup with a pair of free throws to give Stillman its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 13 minutes remaining in the first half. UVI regained the lead with seven minutes left in the half, but it was Miller once more to put Stillman in front, slamming down a dunk, 28-27, with less than five minutes to play. Another Miller dunk with 3:23 to play broke a tie, 31-29, and sparked a 15-2 run for the Tigers to lead 44-31 at halftime.
Joshua Price hit two 3-pointers late in the half to give the Tigers their first 10-point lead, 41-31.
Midway through the second half, UVI used a seven-point run to make it a two-possession game, 59-55, Edwin Solis later cut the margin to two points, 66-64, with 5:33 to play. A pair of
Michael Taylor free throws and a
Tyler Martin 3-pointer stymied the Buccaneers' advances, and Stillman closed the game on a 14-4 run. Martin finished with 12 points.
Amayoa'ah Phillips led UVI with 20 points.
Stillman (8-6, 7-1 HBCUAC) will host Wiley University at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 on Day 2 of the HBCUAC Crossover in Birthright. The action is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. for the six-game day.
