Marauders Hold Off Ohio Dominican for 66-65 Win, Extend Winning Streak to Two

The Central State Marauders secured a thrilling 66-65 victory over Ohio Dominican at Beacom/Lewis Gym in Wilberforce, Ohio, on Thursday afternoon, extending their winning streak to two games heading into the holiday break.

Brandon Scott led the charge for Central State, earning Player of the Game honors with a stellar performance. Scott scored a game-high 25 points, including 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, as the Marauders improved to 5-7 on the season and 2-4 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Scott's effort helped Central State overcome a tight contest in which the lead changed hands 12 times.

The game was a back-and-forth battle throughout, with both teams exchanging leads and playing with intensity. Central State trailed by one at the half, 32-31, but a strong second-half surge, led by Scott's scoring and clutch shooting from Khalil Luster (12 points) and Steven Key II (8 points), gave the Marauders just enough of an edge to hold off Ohio Dominican.

Scott's hot hand from deep helped the Marauders to shoot a solid 45.8% from three-point range, hitting 11-of-24 attempts. Though Ohio Dominican out-rebounded Central State 31-23 and had more second-chance opportunities (17 points), the Marauders' efficient offense, which included a 61.9% shooting clip in the second half, proved to be the difference.

Despite late-game heroics from Ohio Dominican, who had four players in double digits including Elijah Hinton (14 points) and Jejuan Weatherspoon (12 points), Central State survived a late missed near tap in at the buzzer. 

The win was especially significant as Central State heads into the holiday break with momentum. They will face tough road challenges next, with key SIAC games upcoming against Allen University and Benedict College. As the Marauders aim to keep their momentum going, the performances of Scott and his teammates will be crucial in these pivotal matchups.

With the victory, Central State is hoping to carry this winning streak into the new year and stay competitive in the conference race.