January 4, 2014 -- TUSKEGEE, AL -- Not even the return to the lineup of Darrius Williams, the SIAC's leading scorer last season, could propel Morehouse to victory, as the Maroon Tigers fell, 77-66, to the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers.

Morehouse lost the first conference game of the season in the first half, falling behind 35-24. The teams played even in the second half, but Morehouse had to rally from 28 points down to restore the 11-point halftime deficit.

Tuskegee avenged the 63-58 defeat by Morehouse in the semifinals of last season's SIAC tournament.

David Buchannon led all scorers, with 24 points. The senior, playing in his first season, hit 8 of 12 shots from the field, including 6-of 9 three pointers.

Buchannon's hot shooting cemented his position as the team's leading scorer, with a 13.3 points-per-game average.

Williams, a senior who missed the first half of the season, to preserve his final semester of eligibility, hit 6 of 9 shots, for 14 points, to go with a game-high 11 rebounds. He also tied for game-highs in assists and steals, with four of each.

Joshua Simmons, starting in only the second game of the season, hauled in six rebounds and connected on 4 of 6 shots and 6 of 9 free throws, for 14 points.

Cornez Nesbitt contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

Austin Anderson, who led the team in scoring early in the season, missed all six of his shots from the field, but connected on a lone free throw.

Morehouse fell to 4-6 (0-1 SIAC).

Tuskegee, which improved to 4-6 (1-0 SIAC), was led by Javier McKinney, with 22 points, and Elliot Dean and Kevin May, with 14 each.

Morehouse will travel back to Alabama, Monday, at 7:30 p.m., to face Stillman College.