Box Score January 31, 2018 – ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The old expression "All good things must come to an end," was true today for the Maroon Tigers whose 18-game win streak was halted by an 85-72 loss to the Claflin University Panthers.
Until this loss, Morehouse was the last unbeaten team in major college basketball and had risen to #7 in the national poll of basketball coaches. Morehouse slipped to 18-1; 13-1 SIAC. Claflin improved to 18-5; 11-4 SIAC.
Four Maroon Tigers posted double figures, led by Tyrius Walker who topped all players with 27 points. Walker put up 19 of those points in the first half, scoring half of the Maroon Tigers' 38 halftime points.
Morehouse trailed 46-38 at halftime, the largest deficit the Maroon Tigers have faced this season.
The Maroon Tigers were flat from start to finish, shooting only 36 percent – well below their season average of 45 percent. The Tigers shot 19 percent from beyond the arc, also below their season average of 33 percent.
The Panthers did most of their damage inside, where they outrebounded the Maroon Tigers 45-28 and converted that imbalance into a 48-32 points in the paint advantage.
Defense and free-throw shooting were bright spots for Morehouse. The Maroon Tigers forced 21 turnovers and converted those errors to 25 points. Led by Walker's 10 of 11 from the charity stripe, Morehouse shot 24 of 32 from the line, for 75 percent, for the game, compared to 68 percent for the season.
Duby Maduegbunam surpassed his 11-point scoring average, with 15 points, to go with five rebounds.
Omar Alston and Martravious Little each scored 10 points. Alston's team-high 10 rebounds gave him a seventh double-double for the season.
Three Panthers posted double figures, led by Jaleel Charles, with 23 points. The 6-9 center hit 11 of 13 shots and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. In the 86-75 loss to Morehouse, at Forbes Arena, January 20, Charles got into early foul trouble and finished with 12 points and four rebounds.
The Maroon Tigers will look to begin another winning streak, Monday, when they visit Benedict, in Columbia, SC.
(Details and updates to follow)
