Box Score February 8, 2018 – ATLANTA – In a game that will probably be talked about for a long time, Morehouse beat Clark Atlanta, 97-96, in triple overtime, on the Panthers' home court.
The game became between two nationally-ranked teams lived up to the hype for the first 40 minutes, before becoming a war of attrition in the three overtimes. A total of five players from both teams fouled out and two others left with injuries.
Hundreds of fans had lined up for hours for the limited seats in CAU's Epps Arena, to see the cross-campus rivals do battle on the hardwood. In the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, Morehouse is ranked #11. Clark Atlanta is ranked #21. Morehouse improved to 20-1; 15-1. Clark Atlanta slipped to 20-3; 14-2.
Tyrius Walker, who finished with 27 points, hit two free throws with :5 seconds remaining to give Morehouse the final lead. On the previous play, Walker had missed two free throw, which would have given Morehouse the lead. But Walker alertly grabbed his second miss and was fouled on the play. His next two free throws hit nothing but net.
Mark Burton put up a desperation three-pointer that fell short, as the Morehouse faithful stormed the court.
Morehouse jumped out to a big early. James Walker hit 4 of 5 three-pointers and helped stake the Maroon Tigers to a 17-point lead midway through the first half. The Panthers rallied to trail 42-35 at halftime.
Early in the second half, the Maroon Tigers again stretched the lead to 11 points, but the Panthers chipped away at the lead, tying the game at 68-all, at the end of regulation. Both teams had a chance to win near the end of regulation, but each missed key free throws.
In the first overtime, two free throws by Jalen Mitchell gave the Panthers their first lead of the game. Two layups by Michael Olmert and clutch shooting by James Walker and Jordan Wallace accounted for the 12 Morehouse points, in the first OT. James Walker hit a three-pointer and two free throws and Wallace made a twisting driving layup and a free-throw that followed.
Tyrius Walker was 7 of 20 from the field and 11 of 16 from the charity stripe. He added five rebounds and two steals.
James Walker finished with 22 points, on 6 of 9 shooting from beyond the arc. He hit all four of his shots from the line. He added eight rebounds and two assists.
Omar Alston scored four points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Duby Maduegbunam chipped in 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Morehouse played most of the game without co-captain Martravious Little, who contributed four points, three assists and two steals, before leaving early in the second half, with a leg injury.
Jordan Wallace, whose And-1 kept Morehouse in the game, finished with 10 points.
Michael Olmert came off the bench and played for 60 minutes, finishing with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Six Panthers put up double figures, led by Akil Douglas and Shelvick Henry, with 18 apiece. Damien Davis had 16 points and five rebounds for the Panthers who suffered their second straight conference loss.
The Tigers and Panthers will meet again, February 22, at Forbes Arena.
