Back on its own floor after opening the season with seven of its first eight games on the road, the Maroon Tigers used a blistering second half to roll past Central State, 89-70, on Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta. Morehouse carried a slim three-point lead into halftime, then exploded for 54 points after the break to turn a tight game into a runaway.
First half
Morehouse came out sharp and confident, getting an early three to set the tone, but Central State didn't flinch. The Marauders answered with their own perimeter shots and used a quick burst to grab the early edge, including a fast-break triple that pushed them in front 12-5.
The Maroon Tigers settled in by playing with pace and letting their shooters breathe. They chipped away possession by possession, with Josiah Lawson providing a spark and knocking down a pair of threes during a stretch that brought the game back level. From there, it was a true back-and-forth half—every time Central State found a basket, Morehouse had an answer, whether it was a timely three, a finish at the rim, or a stop that led to transition.
The difference at the break came down to toughness. On a key late possession, Logan McCormick cleaned up an offensive rebound and finished inside, giving Morehouse a 35-32 lead heading into the locker room.
Second half
The first few minutes after halftime decided the game.
Morehouse came out aggressive, getting into the paint, defending with more edge, and running whenever it could. A Lawson finish helped push the margin to 48-35, and from there the Maroon Tigers kept pouring it on. Brandon Peters scored inside and then knocked down a three to stretch the lead to 55-37, and the arena felt the momentum swing fully to the home side.
Central State tried to hang around—getting to the line, finding a couple of buckets to slow the pace—but every push was met with a response. When the Marauders trimmed the gap to 69-56, McCormick answered with a tough score and a three-point play. Peters followed later with another big three that made it 77-59, and Morehouse never let the game get uncomfortable again.
In the closing minutes, the Maroon Tigers finished the job with composure—still defending, still moving the ball, and still scoring in transition. A late fast-break layup pushed the lead to 87-65, and Morehouse cruised home from there.
Team comparison
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Shooting: Morehouse 30-for-57; Central State 21-for-46
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3-pointers: Both teams made 10
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Turnovers: Morehouse 5; Central State 11
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Points off turnovers: Morehouse 14; Central State 2
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Points in the paint: Morehouse 32; Central State 14
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Bench points: Morehouse 40; Central State 32
Statistical leaders for Morehouse
The win was more than just a strong performance—it was a welcome reset. After spending most of the early season living out of suitcases, the Maroon Tigers are now positioned to settle in, with 14 of their next 18 games taking place in the Atlanta metro area over the next eight weeks.
And the schedule doesn't slow down. Morehouse stays in Atlanta the rest of the week as it heads to Gateway Arena for the Chris Paul Classic, facing Fayetteville State on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. before closing the event Friday morning against Lincoln (Pa.) at 10:00 a.m.
