Box Score CSU offense goes cold in loss to StillmanTUSCALOOSA, Alabama - For the second consecutive game, Central State struggled in the final three minutes in Monday night's 82-72 road loss to Stillman College.
The night began on a positive note for CSU as the Marauders opened the game with a 9-2 run. Stillman, coached by CSU grad Donte Jackson, answered back as a Antonio Penny basket cut the CSU lead down to 1 at the 15:14 mark of the 1
st half. The teams continued to trade baskets and remained knotted, 21-21, with 12:01 left in the half. CSU manufactured a 7-0 run thanks to makes from
Tre' Edwards,
Akil Cornish and Sean Cassidy, Jr. as the Marauders claimed a 30-23 lead at the 8 minute mark. Cassidy hit from the perimeter to give CSU their largest lead of the night, 36-27, with 5:10 to go before halftime. Devin McNeil and Neville Young combined for 8 of SC's final 12 points in the final 3 minutes of the half and helped bring the Tigers back to within two at the break.
McNeil continued to be the go to man for Stillman in the second half. He quickly tied the game up, 41-41, in the opening seconds of the half and scored 8 straight points to help Stillman build a 57-46 lead with 14:16 remaining. CSU responded with a 12-2 run capped off by a Tre Edwards' three pointer to narrow the SC lead, 59-58, with 10:02 left in the game. Over a span of 7 minutes, the team's traded three pointers and free throws with neither side managing to gain separation. With 2:50 to go, CSU's
Akil Cornish hit the team's twelfth three pointer of the night to tie the game, 72-72. McNeil provided the answer on the other end, hitting from beyond the arc and giving Stillman a lead they managed to hang on to for the remainder of the contest. After a CSU turnover, Ronald Singleton put SC up six with a traditional three point play. McNeil added two more free throws on the next possession to help seal the win as the Tigers went on to the 9 point victory.
Stillman held a 58-20 edge in points scored in the paint and a 23-11 advantage in second chance points.
In a similar circumstance to Saturday's narrow loss to Tuskegee, CSU's offense went cold down the stretch, managing just 1 point in the final 2:49. In the last six minutes of the team's last two games, CSU has combined for just 2 made field goals and 7 points total.
Central State fell to 5-8 overall and 5-5 in the SIAC despite a game-high 27 points from Edwards. No other Marauder scored in double-figures.
McNeil led Stillman with 18 points as his team improved to 12-5 overall and a conference leading 6-1 mark.
The Marauders return home to host Cedarville University on Thursday. With campuses that are separated by just 4.9 miles, CSU and Cedarville will tip-off the action at 7:30 pm in the
Inaugural Greene County Appreciation Night.
