Box Score January 23, 2017 – AUGUSTA, GA – Morehouse rebounded from Saturday's road loss at Spring Hill, to post a 78-54 win over SIAC East Division Rival, the Paine College Lions.
Morehouse led from wire to wire and never seemed truly threatened by a struggling Lions team that dressed only eight players. The Maroon Tigers led 40-33 at the half. After intermission, they stretched the lead to double digits within minutes and never looked back. The 24-point advantage matched the season's largest margin of victory, which was reached in the 101-77 win over Virginia Union, in November.
The win elevated Morehouse to 10-6; 4-4. Paine slipped to 1-16; 0-9. The Maroon Tigers split last year's season series against the Lions, winning 72-71, at home, and losing 77-70, a week earlier, in Augusta. The Lions had won six of the previous 10 games.
Center Omar Alston did the heavy lifting for the Tigers, with his fourth double-double of the season. The 6-6 center from Waldorf, MD had game highs in points and rebounds. He hit 7 of 10 shots and 4 of 5 free throws, for 18 points and was one point shy of the season high 19 points that he reached in the win over Central State.
Ayinde Russell surpassed his season average of 15.6 points per game, with 16 points, on 6 of 14 shooting. Four of his made baskets were three-pointers. Russell has scored in double digits in all eight games since he returned to the lineup, after missing the first half of the season. He added four rebounds and two steals.
Jordan Wallace had his best game in more than a month. The junior from Flint, MI hit 4 of 8 shots, including three triples, for 12 points. It was his first double digit scoring since posting 14 against Lane, on December 10.
Tyrius Walker hit five of his 10 shots, for 11 points. Though slightly below his season scoring average of 16.9 points per game, Walker made up for it in other ways, with eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals.
Martravious Little chipped in nine points.
Morehouse will host the Albany State Golden Rams, Thursday, at 7 p.m., in Forbes Arena.
