Box Score Marauders earn crucial SIAC victory with 88-81 overtime win over MorehouseWILBERFORCE, Ohio- After a disappointing loss to Clark-Atlanta on Thursday, CSU bounced back nicely with a 88-81 overtime win over Morehouse College on Saturday afternoon.
"We really needed this win badly in order to stay relevant in the conference standings," said CSU Head CoachÂ
Joseph Price. "We came out with good energy and had a nice sized crowd behind us throughout the entire afternoon."
CSU got off to a good start, building their lead to nine on three different occasions in the opening 9 minutes of the game. A good layup by Hosie Smith, Jr. gave the Marauders a 21-12 advantage at the 11:01 mark before Morehouse responded with a 9-0 run to even the score up, 21-21 at the 8:44 mark. CSU reclaimed the lead as aÂ
Tom Johnson three pointer sparked a 7-0 run. CSU managed to maintain the 7 point advantage as the team took a 38-31 lead into halftime.
The Marauders increased their lead to 12 after a Smith Jr. basket put CSU up 45-33 at the 17:16 mark of the second half. Morehouse slowly chipped away at the lead thanks to perimeter shooting from Ayinde Russell and Michael Scott. An 8-0 Morehouse run capped off by a Scott three pointer gave the Tigers their first lead, 52-51, since the early stages of the game. The teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half. With the score tied 63-63, a string a CSU free throws gave CSU a 66-63 lead. Morehouse responded with the next with the next 4 points to take the lead with 53 seconds remaining.Â
Dymiere Finch put CSU back on top, 68-67, on the next possession. On the next possession, Russell was called for a 5 second violation and the Tigers were forced to foul.Â
Sterling Gilmore went to line and calmly sank both free throws to extend the CSU lead to 70-67. Down three, Scott delivered a big shot from beyond the arc to tie the game, 70-70, with 15 seconds to go. A potential game winning shot from Gilmore rimmed out as time expired and the two teams remained deadlocked heading into overtime.
The Marauders opened overtime on a 6-0 run as a Finch layup gave CSU a 76-70 lead. The Marauder defense held Morehouse to just 3 points in the first 4 minutes of overtime as they took a 8 point lead into the final minute of play. Morehouse refused to go away quietly as three pointers from Russell and Anthony Farrar help MC pull within 3 with 39 seconds. Clutch free throw shooting from Johnson and Gilmore helped CSU seal the 88-81 victory as the Marauders improved to 4-6 overall with a 4-3 ledger in SIAC play.
Smith, Jr. led CSU with 17 points on a perfect 8 of 8 from the field. He also finished with a team-high 10 rebounds. Johnson finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds.Â
Sterling Gilmore was 11 of 14 from the free throw line and finished with 13 points. Finch chipped in with 8 points off the bench.
"Today was a great battle and I am proud of the way we played against a well-coached team in Morehouse College," Price said. "We had a total team effort. I was especially proud ofÂ
Sterling Gilmore, who played with a heavy heart after the recent loss of his grandfather. He came out and hit big free throws down the stretch and showed great leadership today."
Morehouse was led by 27 points from Russell. Farrar finished with 10. With the loss, Morehouse fell to 6-5 on the season with a 2-4 mark in conference play.
The Marauders turn their focus to next week's 3-game road trip to Alabama with games against Miles College, Tuskegee University and Stillman College.
"We have a tough week ahead of us on the road against three really talented teams," Price said. "Hopefully tonight's win will help give us some extra confidence heading into next week."
Central State plays Miles (7-7; 5-0) on Thursday in Fairfield, AL at 7:30 pm.
Additional Notes:
- Jenell Ross served as Saturday's honorary assistant coach and improved her all-time collegiate coaching record to 1-0.
- 40 members from the Dayton Alumni Chapter attended the game and were also given a tour of the new University Center on Central State's campus.
- Today's meeting between the two programs was the first since the 2000-2001 season.
- At the conclusion of Saturday's game, alumni and fans of Morehouse College presented CSU President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond with a Certificate of Recognition.
