February 14, 2013 – COLUMBIA, SC – The 14-game Morehouse winning streak that tied the best in school history ended with a 77-70 loss to the Benedict College Tigers.
The first loss since December 8 was also the season's first loss in conference play for the Maroon Tigers who moved to 15-6 (13-1 SIAC). Morehouse remains one game ahead of Benedict in the SIAC East Division.
After a steal and layup by Malcolm Frank that gave Morehouse a 2-0 lead, the Maroon Tigers trailed the rest of the way, mostly by double digits.
Morehouse closed the game on an 11-3 run, but couldn't overcome a 14-point second-half deficit. The Maroon Tigers forced 15 Benedict turnovers, while committing only nine, but were out-rebounded 33-22.
Shawn Allen, with 24 points, and Darrius Williams, with 21 points, led Morehouse. Both went 7 of 8 from the free throw line, with Williams grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
Austin Anderson chipped in 10 points. Frank added five points, three assists and two steals.
Andrae Nelson scored eight points and had only one rebound, well below his 8.0 rebounds-per-game average.
Xavier Collier led the way for Benedict, with 29 points. He hit 7 of 9 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 from the line. He got help from Marcus Goode, the two-time SIAC Player of the Year, who scored 18 points, hauled down 12 rebounds and blocked eight shots.
Benedict moved to 17-6 (12-2 SIAC).
The Morehouse win streak matched the 14 in a row won by the 2002-2003 Maroon Tigers who won the SIAC tournament and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Morehouse and Benedict split home games this season and will likely enter the upcoming SIAC tournament as the teams to beat. Prior to beating Benedict 68-65, January 26, Morehouse had lost 16 consecutive times to the defending SIAC champions, dating back to 2004.
The Maroon Tigers will try to start a new win streak, when they travel to Augusta, Saturday, at 7 p.m., to take on the Paine College Lions.
For more stories and stats, visit http://athletics.morehouse.edu.
The 2013 SIAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament will be held in Forbes Arena, February 25 through March 2. For information and tickets, visit www.thesiac.com.
