OAKLAND, CA | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers stepped onto their biggest stage ever in the 4th annual HBCU NBA Classic, facing off against SIAC rival Tuskegee Goden Tigers at Oakland Arena, in front of a record crowd of 10, 131 fans. This attendance marked the largest crowd in the event's history, surpassing the 8,762 from last year and far exceeding the inaugural event's 6,459 attendees.
From the moment the teams stepped onto the floor for warmups, it was clear that this game was more than just another conference matchup—it was a celebration of HBCU culture, tradition, and basketball excellence. The crowd was a mix of alumni, students, and Bay Area basketball fans, many of whom came dressed in not only the school colors of the participants, but the crowd also wore many other HBCU institutions gear, Divine Nine paraphernalia , and general HBCU gear, creating a vibrant and passionate environment.
As the game tipped off, the energy in the arena mirrored that of a conference championship game or an HBCU football classic. Every basket was met with loud cheers, and defensive stops brought roars from the crowd.
FIRST HALF
The game opened with a three-pointer by Tuskegee in transition, setting the tone for the Golden Tigers' attack. Morehouse had a chance to respond on the next possession, but Cedric Taylor III misfired from deep. This pattern continued in the opening minutes, with Morehouse missing its first three three-point attempts and Tuskegee pushing the ball in transition.
A Tuskegee with a mid-range jumper extended the lead to 5-0 at the 16:30 mark. Morehouse finally broke through when Amahn Decker converted a layup inside after an assist from Omar Rowe, cutting the lead to 5-2. However, Morehouse's early turnovers (six in the first 10 minutes) prevented them from capitalizing on their defensive stops.
Despite Morehouse's early struggles, the crowd remained engaged, reacting to every key moment. The loudest early moment came when Amahn Decker powered through contact for an and-one layup, igniting the Morehouse section. However, Tuskegee's defensive intensity and fast breaks kept them in control, silencing Morehouse runs with clutch baskets.
Tuskegee found its rhythm midway through the half, capitalizing on Morehouse's struggles from deep (1-of-11 from three in the first half). The Golden Tigers knocked down a deep three to push the lead to 10-6 with 12 minutes left in the half. Morehouse responded with a 5-0 run, fueled by Sincere Key's three-pointer and a Jaden Gray layup off a fast break, trimming the deficit to 10-9.
Morehouse's defensive rebounding struggles began to show at this stage, as Tuskegee collected nine offensive rebounds in the first half, leading to key second-chance points. Tuskegee grabbed multiple offensive boards and got to the free-throw line, extending their lead to 16-12 with just under eight minutes to play.
Morehouse continued to struggle on offense, shooting just 37.5% from the field (9-of-24) in the first half. Their three-point shooting woes persisted, and they left valuable points at the free-throw line, going 3-of-10 from the stripe in the opening period. Turnovers and missed opportunities in the paint kept them from gaining any offensive rhythm.
One of Morehouse's best scoring opportunities came when JerMontae Hill forced a Tuskegee turnover and found Amahn Decker for a transition layup, but Morehouse immediately gave up a basket on the other end, failing to sustain momentum.
With under three minutes left, Morehouse trailed 23-20 and had a chance to close the half strong. However, missed free throws and poor transition defense allowed Tuskegee to go on a 7-2 run to close the half. Morehouse had the final possession before halftime, but Hill's contested three-pointer bounced off the rim, leaving them trailing 30-22 at the break.
SECOND HALF
While Morehouse showed flashes of offensive improvement, their turnover struggles, rebounding issues, and cold shooting stretches ultimately prevented them from completing a comeback.
The Maroon Tigers came out with renewed energy in the opening minutes of the second half. JerMontae Hill gave Morehouse life by knocking down a three-pointer on the first possession, cutting the lead to 30-25. On the next Tuskegee possession, Morehouse's defensive pressure forced a turnover, leading to a fast-break layup from Jaden Gray, further closing the gap to 30-27.
After a Tuskegee miss, Morehouse had a chance to tie the game, but Sincere Key misfired on a deep three-pointer. Tuskegee took advantage and converted a transition layup, extending the lead to 32-27.
Despite Morehouse's quick start, Tuskegee responded with a defensive stand, forcing three turnovers in the next two minutes. Tuskegee capitalized on Morehouse's mistakes, scoring inside off a putback and drawing a foul, extending the Golden Tigers' lead to 36-27 with 17 minutes remaining.
Morehouse needed a response, and Cedric Taylor III provided a mid-range jumper to make it 36-29. However, Tuskegee remained aggressive, using their superior rebounding (41-36 final advantage) to control the pace. Another second-chance and a corner three-pointer gave Tuskegee their biggest lead at 41-29 with 15:30 to go.
Morehouse made another push. Key and Hill hit back-to-back jumpers, bringing the deficit to 41-33. Then, Decker grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and finished through contact, converting an and-one opportunity to bring the score to 41-36 with 13:45 left.
Tuskegee, however, had an answer for every Morehouse run. A contested three, followed by a steal and fast-break layup pushed the lead back to 46-36.
Morehouse's offense stalled again, missing three straight shots and turning the ball over twice over the next three possessions. Tuskegee took advantage, getting a transition bucket and a free throw from to push the lead to 50-38 with 9:30 remaining.
With the game slipping away, Morehouse showed its final burst of energy, fueled by Sincere Key's hot shooting. The junior guard hit two deep three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, cutting the Tuskegee lead to 52-44 with just over seven minutes to play. Morehouse then forced a Tuskegee turnover, and Decker finished a layup, trimming the lead to 52-46. At this point, momentum seemed to shift, as Morehouse fans in Oakland Arena erupted in support.
However, Tuskegee once again silenced the crowd with a crucial 8-2 run. A Tuskegee second-chance three, followed by a tough mid-range jumper, stretched the lead to 60-48 with under five minutes left. Morehouse continued to battle, but missed free throws (8-of-21 for the game) and turnovers (16 total) made a comeback nearly impossible. With two minutes left, Tuskegee sealed the game as the Golden Tigers scored inside and then iced two free throws, making it 65-52. Morehouse managed a late three-pointer from Key, but Tuskegee ran out the clock, winning 68-55.
TEAM COMPARISON
- Field Goals: Morehouse 21-54 (38.9%), Tuskegee 24-59 (40.7%)
- Three-Pointers: Morehouse 5-23 (21.7%), Tuskegee 7-16 (43.8%)
- Free Throws: Morehouse 8-21 (38.1%), Tuskegee 13-19 (68.4%)
- Turnovers: Morehouse 16, Tuskegee 14
- Rebounds: Morehouse 36, Tuskegee 41
MOREHOUSE STATISTICAL LEADERS
A Lasting Impact
Despite the loss, Morehouse players soaked in the historic atmosphere, understanding that this experience was bigger than just the scoreboard. Playing in an NBA arena with over 10,000 fans provided a rare and invaluable opportunity, showcasing HBCU talent on a platform that many programs never get to experience.
This game not only broke attendance records for the HBCU NBA Classic but also cemented the rising prominence of HBCU basketball. The passion, pride, and pageantry on display at Oakland Arena ensured that this was not just another game—it was an event to remember.
Looking Ahead: Edward Waters on Tuesday
Morehouse now turns its attention to a crucial conference matchup against Edward Waters (10-15, 7-9 SIAC) on Tuesday, February 18. A win would keep Morehouse above .500 in SIAC play and help their seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. The game will tip off at 7PM inside of Forbes Arena on the McAfee Court. The regular-season home finale will occur on Saturday, February 22 and tip off at 6PM. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at
www.morehouseathletics.com.
