Box Score February 5, 2018 – COLUMBIA, SC – The Maroon Tigers went on a 12-6 run, in the final three minutes, to break open a close game and give Morehouse an 85-79 win over the Benedict College Tigers.
In that stretch, the Maroon Tigers hit 5 of 6 clutch free throws – two each by Keyshaun Jacobs, Michael Olmert and Jordan Wallace and one by Tyrius Walker. Helping to forge a late-game lead, Michael Olmert made one of his three driving layups and Walker hit a triple.
Pressure shooting and a 33-27 rebounding advantage helped Morehouse secure the season sweep over Benedict, which slipped to 17-7. The superior rebounding allowed the Maroon Tigers a 14-8 second-chance-points advantage, in a back-and-forth game, which featured 20 ties and 14 lead changes.
Tyrius Walker had another MVP-type performance, with a game-high 29 points. Walker hit 11 of 18 from the field, with 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. He added seven rebounds, two assists and a block to his totals.
Doubling his usual 6.6 minutes of playing time, Keyshaun Jacobs came off the bench for 12 points. Jacobs hit a layup, a triple and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Sophomore Michael Olmert had one of his best games as a Maroon Tiger. Olmert, a crafty, ball-handling guard from Atlanta's Campbell High School, hit 3 of 4 from the field, 3 of 3 from the line. He added four rebounds and three assists.
Omar Alston posted his eight double-double of the season, with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, to go with three assists, a block and a steal.
James Walker chipped in nine points and two rebounds.
Three Benedict Tigers posted double figures, led by Brandon Morris, with 22 points. Jelani Watson-Gayle put up 15 and Rodney Prichard added 12 points.
Rebounding from the last week's 85-72 loss to Claflin, which broke Morehouse' historic 18-game win streak, the win improves the Maroon Tigers to 19-1 and sets up Thursday's showdown road game at Clark Atlanta (20-1).
That game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at CAU's Epps Gymnasium.
(Details and updates to follow)
