Xenia, Ohio — The Central State University men's basketball team opened its 2025–26 season in thrilling fashion on Friday night, earning a 69–64 overtime victory over Mississippi College in the opening round of the GSC–SIAC Crossover at The John Wooden Family Fieldhouse on the Campus of Athletes in Action.  

The win marks the first of the season for the Marauders (1–0), who used balanced scoring, strong defense, and late-game composure to take down the Choctaws (0–1) in front of an energetic home crowd.  This is the first 1-0 start for the Maruders since the 21-22 Season. 

Pryor Leads the Charge

Senior guard Ramar Pryor picked up right where he left off last season, posting a game-high 22 points to go with six rebounds and seven steals in a dominant two-way performance. Pryor attacked the rim, created transition opportunities, and came up with key defensive stops to keep the Marauders in control throughout the extra period.

Balanced Attack and Perimeter Shooting

The Marauders shot a solid 46.4% from the field and connected on 10 three-pointers (40%), providing the offensive spark they needed against the GSC's physical defensive style.

Point guard Khalil Luster added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc while dishing out three assists. Graduate transfer Keionte Cornelius made an immediate impact in his CSU debut, scoring 13 points and hitting three key triples, including one in overtime to give the Marauders the lead for good.

Forward Javontae Randle provided toughness in the paint with seven points, eight rebounds, and a block, while Emanuel Henriques chipped in seven points and two assists in his first appearance as a Marauder.

Defensive Effort and Overtime Composure

Central State forced 21 Mississippi College turnovers, converting them into 20 points while holding the Choctaws to 34% shooting and just 4-of-16 from three-point range.

After leading 28–23 at halftime, CSU found itself in a back-and-forth battle down the stretch. The Choctaws tied the game at 59–59 at the end of regulation, but the Marauders responded in the extra frame — outscoring MC 10–5 in overtime behind clutch shots from Pryor and Cornelius.

Stat Highlights

• Pryor (CSU): 22 pts, 6 reb, 7 stl

• Luster (CSU): 14 pts, 3 ast, 4 threes

• Cornelius (CSU): 13 pts, 3 threes

• Randle (CSU): 7 pts, 8 reb

• Henriques (CSU): 7 pts, 2 ast

• Johnson (MC): 14 pts, 16 reb

Looking Ahead

The Marauders (1–0) return to action on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. when they face West Alabama in the final game of the GSC–SIAC Crossover at the John Wooden Family Fieldhouse on the campus of Athletes in Action in Xenia, Ohio.