Brandon Peters
77
Morehouse More 0-2,0-0 SIAC
78
Winner Palm Beach Atl. PBA 2-0,0-0 Sunshine State
Morehouse More
0-2,0-0 SIAC
77
Final
78
Palm Beach Atl. PBA
2-0,0-0 Sunshine State
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Morehouse More 41 36 77
Palm Beach Atl. PBA 39 39 78

Game Recap: Basketball | | A.D. Drew | Sports Marketing Manager

Morehouse Drops 2nd Close One in Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN | Morehouse shot the ball well enough to win and led for long stretches Sunday afternoon, but a barrage of Palm Beach Atlantic three-pointers and a handful of late free throws sent the Maroon Tigers to a 78–77 loss in the finale of the Robert Garrett Classic. The defeat spoiled a balanced offensive effort that saw five Maroon Tigers score in double figures and dropped Morehouse to 0–2 on the young season.

First Half

From the opening tip, Morehouse looked like the more aggressive and connected team. The Maroon Tigers pushed the ball after misses, flattened out the Palm Beach Atlantic defense in transition, and attacked the paint to create clean looks on the perimeter. JerMontae Hill got Morehouse going with midrange jumpers and cuts to the rim, while Brandon Peters calmly knocked down early threes to stretch the defense.

Inside, Josiah Lawson gave the Tigers a steady option on the block and in the high post, scoring on face-ups and short turnarounds to keep Palm Beach Atlantic from loading up on the guards. Logan McCormick added energy on the glass and finished around the rim, helping Morehouse control tempo and shot quality for much of the half.

As substitutions came in, the Maroon Tigers' depth showed. Guards Robert Brazelton and Sincere Moore provided an offensive spark off the bench, with Brazelton drilling threes in rhythm and Moore slashing into gaps when Palm Beach tried to extend its defense. Morehouse consistently got into its actions early in the shot clock, moved the ball side-to-side, and used ball screens to free shooters, resulting in an efficient mix of paint touches and kick-out threes.

Palm Beach Atlantic stayed close by responding from long range, but even as the Sailfish heated up, Morehouse's offense rarely bogged down. The Maroon Tigers answered each Sailfish run with a timely basket — a Peters three, a Lawson jumper, or a Hill drive — and took a 41–39 lead into the locker room, having dictated much of the flow of the first 20 minutes.

Second Half

Morehouse came out of halftime continuing to play through its offensive strengths. The Maroon Tigers opened the half by getting the ball into Lawson in the midpost and using his scoring threat to draw extra defenders, which opened up the perimeter once again. Brazelton and Peters both connected from beyond the arc as Morehouse pushed its edge to multiple possessions, looking comfortable in its sets and confident in its shot selection.

Defensively, the Maroon Tigers mixed ball pressure with solid help in the lane, forcing Palm Beach Atlantic into contested attempts and long possessions. Hill cleaned the glass and ignited several transition chances, while Moore attacked close-outs and got to the line, keeping the Sailfish off balance. For long stretches, Morehouse appeared in full control — getting stops, finishing possessions, and turning Palm Beach misses into fast-break opportunities.

As the half wore on, however, the margin for error shrank. A cold stretch from the free-throw line and a few empty trips opened the door for the Sailfish to creep back. Second-chance opportunities on the defensive glass began to slip away, and each extra possession for Palm Beach Atlantic seemed to end with a three. While Morehouse continued to score efficiently from the field, the combination of rebounding lapses and Palm Beach's hot shooting slowly erased the Maroon Tigers' advantage.

In the final minutes, Morehouse still had chances. Peters and Brazelton hit key shots to keep the Tigers within striking distance, and Moore buried a late three to trim the deficit in the closing seconds. But Palm Beach Atlantic converted just enough free throws in the final minute to stay in front, and a last Morehouse push came up one point short as the horn sounded.

Team Statistical Comparison

  • Field goals: Morehouse: 30-of-56 (53.6%) | Palm Beach Atlantic: 26-of-57 (45.6%)

  • Three-point shooting: Morehouse: 12-of-18 (66.7%) | Palm Beach Atlantic: 16-of-37 (43.2%)

  • Free throws: Morehouse: 5-of-12 (41.7%) | Palm Beach Atlantic: 10-of-16 (62.5%)

  • Rebounds: Morehouse: 28 total (6 offensive, 22 defensive) | Palm Beach Atlantic: 39 total (14 offensive, 25 defensive)

  • Assists / Turnovers: Morehouse: 12 assists, 8 turnovers | Palm Beach Atlantic: 19 assists, 13 turnovers

  • Points off turnovers: Morehouse 16 | Palm Beach Atlantic 15

  • Second-chance points: Palm Beach Atlantic 7 | Morehouse 6

  • Points in the paint: Morehouse 24 | Palm Beach Atlantic 20

  • Fast-break points: Morehouse 13 | Palm Beach Atlantic 5

  • Bench points: Morehouse 22 | Palm Beach Atlantic 15

Morehouse Statistical Leaders

Despite the loss, Morehouse showcased an efficient, balanced offense and stretches of strong team defense that should translate as the season progresses. The Maroon Tigers are in the midst of a five-game road swing. Morehouse will begin SIAC play this Thursday as they travel to face Albany State. The Maroon Tigers will coninue on to Mobile, AL to face Spring Hill on Saturday. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com or Maroon Tiger basketball on Instagram @morehousebasketball.
 

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