December 2, 2010 – ATLANTA – Roderick Williams hit two free throws with nine seconds remaining, to help Morehouse snag the first win of the season – a 56-55 nail-biter over the Claflin University Panthers.
The Maroon Tigers led most of the game, including by nine points, well into the second half. But the Panthers chipped away at the lead and tied the game at 54-all, on a free-throw by Efe Uwadiae-Odigie, who hit one of two attempts.
On the Morehouse possession, Williams, a senior from Riverdale, GA, was fouled, walked calmly to the free-throw line and hit nothing but net on his two attempts.
Claflin had a chance to win or tie on the final possession. When the Morehouse defense collapsed on Eric Salley, the team leading scorer, he passed the ball off to Uwadiae-Odigie who was fouled under the basket. With .7 seconds on the clock, Uwadiae-Odigie made the first free throw, but missed the second. Jelani Figures, who had committed the foul, skied high for the rebound, as the buzzer sounded.
For the second time in as many games, Austin Anderson led the Tigers in scoring. The freshman guard hit 6-of-11shots, for 15 points, and was the only Tiger in double figures. Adam Callaway added eight points, sinking all three of his shots and two free throws.
Williams, who hit 5-of-6 free-throw attempts, finished with nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Joshiah Anabraba led the team in rebounding with nine. Andrae Nelson collected seven rebounds, to go with four points and two blocks.
For the first time this season, the Tigers took better care of the ball than their opponents, committing 16 turnovers, compared to 19 by the Panthers.
Head coach
Grady Brewer got better production from his bench than Ron Woodard, his Claflin counterpart. The Maroon Tiger bench outscored the Panthers' bench 31-17 and Morehouse won the battle in the paint, 26-18.
Despite Eric Salley's game-high 24 points and double figures by two others, the Panthers fell to 3-3. They travel to Frankfort, KY, to face the Kentucky State Thorobreds, who beat them in overtime two weeks ago.
Morehouse will ride west to Birmingham, Saturday, for a 3 p.m. game against the Miles College Golden Bears.
