Late free throws lift Central State past Tuskegee, 74-73
 
 
TUSKEGEE, Alabama – Two late free throws lifted Central State past Tuskegee, 74-73, on Saturday night.
 
 
With the win, CSU improves to 12-14 overall and 10-8 mark in the SIAC. TU drops to 6-20 on the year with a 4-13 mark in the conference.
 
 
Junior forward Chris Scott opened the game with five quick points to help CSU jump out to a 15-4 lead at the 12:04 mark of the first half. TU used the three ball to climb back in the game to spark a 16-6 run. TU evened up the score, 27-27, on a James Eads three-pointer with 2:46 left in the first half. The teams traded baskets as CSU's Tom Johnson knocked down a midrange jumper at the buzzer to knot the score up, 31-31, at intermission.
 
 
The teams played to a 46-46 tied with 11:23 to play in the second half. TU mounted a 7-0 run capped by a Travis Flagg layup to go up 53-46 with 10:13 left. TU maintained its lead and went up, 61-53, after free throws from Cam Grepke at the 6:16 mark. With 4:01 left on the clock, CSU jumped back into the game. Chris Scott battled down low to score on a tip-back. Davone Daniels hit from long range and Frank Barber III added two free throws on CSU's next two possessions to pull within one, 66-65.
 
 
After two free throws from Eads put TU up by three, CSU knocked its next four free throws to take a 69-68 lead with 1:52 to go. Mike Young knocked down two more from the line on the other end to put TU back up by one. Frank Barber III answered for CSU with a midrange jumper to put his team up 71-70 with under a minute to play. Sterling Gilmore split a pair of free throws on CSU's next offensive trip down the floor to up the lead to two with 35 seconds left. Myles Thoams hit from well beyond the arc to give TU a 73-72 lead.
 
 
After a loose ball bounced out of bounds, CSU remained with possession with 7 seconds to play. Gilmore drove to the basket and drew the foul with 2 seconds left. Gilmore calmly knocked down both free throws to put the Marauders up, 74-73. TU was forced to heave a long distance pass that was deflected and fell out of bounds as time expired.
 
A key factor to CSU victory was the Marauders' ability to score in the paint. CSU outscored TU, 34-24, in the paint. The CSU bench also delivered a lift b outscoring the TU reserves, 30-9.
 
 
CSU forward Chris Scott led the Marauders with 21 points and seven rebounds. Charles Ruise came off the bench to finish with 14 points and three steals. Barber III finished with 12 points and six rebounds as CSU celebrated its fifth straight victory.
 
 
Flagg led the TU offense with 20 points. Eads finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
 
 
CSU will conclude the conference play on the road on Monday against Miles College at 7:30 pm cst (8:30 pm est).

 
 
Notes
With Saturday's win, CSU has won a season-high five straight games.
 
After starting the season with an 0-9 mark on the road, CSU has won three of its last four road games.
 
CSU senior forward Jeremy Brown is the reigning SIAC Player of the Week.
 
CSU junior guard Charles Ruise is the reigning SIAC Newcomer of the Week.
 
CSU has two regular season games remaining (Miles and Salem).
 
CSU has won its last four games by four points or less.
 
CSU sweeps the regular season series with TU (2-0).
 
CSU is currently in second place in the SIAC West Division. Lane College remains in first place with a 10-7 conference record.
 
 
 
 
Next Game
Opponent: Miles
Date: Monday, February 19th
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm cst
Location: Knox-Wyndham Gymnasium – Fairfield, Alabama
 
 
 
Live Coverage
Live Stats (provided by Miles College) - http://www.sidearmstats.com/miles/mbball/