TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stillman College men's basketball team fought valiantly until the end against the Southern University at New Orleans Knights, erased a double-digit second-half deficit and made a late push, but came up short in an 84-79 loss to SUNO Wednesday evening inside Birthright Alumni Hall in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Basketball Championships. 

The Tigers were the top seed from the East Division, while SUNO finished fourth in the West Division. 

Stillman trimmed a 13-point second-half deficit to four in the final seconds behind a strong offensive effort from Dasean Sellers and Josh Price, but SUNO converted late free throws to secure the win. 

Sellers led Stillman with 22 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Price added 19 points. Jordan Fordyce scored 16 points off the bench, converting 12-of-12 free throws, and Brandon Howard contributed eight points. 

Rapid Recap:

Stillman opened with strong interior play from Sellers and early scoring from Price to build a quick lead.

SUNO answered with efficient perimeter shooting, hitting seven first-half three-pointers while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field. Despite a spark from Fordyce at the free-throw line and late baskets from Sellers, the Knights closed the half on a scoring push to take a 42-35 lead into the break. Stillman shot 47.8 percent in the half and went 10-for-12 at the line, but was unable to keep pace with SUNO's outside shooting. 

Stillman battled back early in the second half, with Sellers scoring inside and Price attacking the paint to cut the deficit to single digits. A pair of free throws from Fordyce and a jumper by Allister Dixon trimmed the margin to five midway through the half.

SUNO extended its lead back to double digits with a 13-point cushion, but the Tigers responded with a late surge. Sellers converted multiple baskets in the paint, and Price added key free throws and a late three to pull Stillman within four in the closing seconds.

Stillman outscored SUNO 44-42 in the second half and finished 24-of-29 at the free-throw line, but SUNO shot 53.7 percent from the field and sealed the game at the line in the final minute to hold off the Tigers. 

Notes and Numbers:                

• Stillman shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field and 82.8 percent (24-of-29) from the free-throw line. 
• The Tigers held a 36-29 rebounding advantage and scored 34 points in the paint. 
• Stillman's bench contributed 30 points.