COLUMBIA, SC | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers took care of business Wednesday night, defeating the undermanned Benedict Tigers 71-60 at HRC Arena. The victory secured Morehouse the No. 2 seed in the SIAC East and set up a first-round conference tournament matchup against LeMoyne-Owen on Saturday, March 1, at 10 AM in Forbes Arena.

Benedict, playing with only six available players due to suspensions stemming from an on-court altercation earlier in the week, showed grit but ultimately couldn't keep pace with the Maroon Tigers' balanced attack and relentless defensive pressure.

FIRST HALF

From the opening tip, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers took advantage of Benedict's short-handed roster, applying early defensive pressure and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Morehouse's aggressive full-court press forced turnovers early, setting the tone for the half.

The Maroon Tigers struck first with a transition dunk from Cedric Taylor III, assisted by Brandon Peters, following a steal at mid-court. Benedict responded with two free throws from Cehki Hill, but Morehouse maintained control with efficient ball movement and strong inside play.

JerMontae Hill showcased his versatility, contributing on both ends with a steal that led to a fastbreak layup and a pair of free throws, extending Morehouse's lead to 6-2. Amahn Decker was an early defensive catalyst, registering multiple steals and converting free throws after being fouled on a fastbreak attempt.

Benedict briefly closed the gap with a three-pointer, but Morehouse answered quickly with a deep jumper from Omar Rowe and another Taylor III dunk. The Maroon Tigers asserted themselves inside, scoring 20 points in the paint in the first half, exploiting Benedict's lack of depth and size.

Despite their limited rotation, Benedict fought back, relying heavily on Cadarius Baggett's shot-making ability. He drained a three-pointer with 10:45 left in the half, cutting Morehouse's lead to 17-15. However, Dondre Watson and Brandon Peters provided a spark off the bench, crashing the boards and creating second-chance opportunities.

The turning point came midway through the half when Morehouse went on a 10-2 scoring run, fueled by its swarming defense. Rowe and Decker each recorded steals, leading to fastbreak layups that forced Benedict to call a timeout. Morehouse's quickness in transition proved too much for the Tigers, as they outscored Benedict 14-6 in fastbreak points by halftime.

Taylor III continued his hot shooting, knocking down a three-pointer with 7:05 left, pushing the lead to 26-15—the first double-digit margin of the game. Morehouse's defense remained locked in, as Peters and Decker combined for five steals in the half, constantly disrupting Benedict's offensive flow.

Benedict attempted to claw back in the final minutes of the half, but Morehouse closed the half strong with a transition bucket from Peters, pushing the score to 37-28 at the break.

SECOND HALF

Coming out of halftime with a 37-28 lead, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers wasted no time reasserting their dominance. Cedric Taylor III opened the scoring with a deep three-pointer, extending the lead to 40-28. His confidence from beyond the arc set the tone for the half, as Morehouse aimed to put the game out of reach early.

Benedict, despite its shorthanded roster, showed resilience. Cadarius Baggett continued to lead the charge, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. However, his missed jump shot at the 19:06 mark allowed Morehouse to push the pace. The Maroon Tigers' defense remained relentless, forcing early second-half turnovers, including a steal by Taylor III, who found JerMontae Hill in transition for an easy fastbreak layup. That sequence extended Morehouse's lead to 44-28, forcing a Benedict timeout at the 17:55 mark.

Following the timeout, Benedict attempted to counter by slowing the tempo, converting a layup to cut the deficit to 14, but Morehouse quickly responded. Jaden Gray found Taylor III for a driving layup, and after a foul, Taylor III completed the three-point play at the free-throw line, stretching the lead to 47-30 with 16:27 remaining.

Morehouse's offense cooled off slightly, missing several contested shots, allowing Benedict to string together some much-needed baskets at the 11:30 mark.

Benedict tried to capitalize on Morehouse's foul trouble,. however, struggles at the charity stripe prevented the Tigers from gaining real momentum. Morehouse, despite a few careless turnovers, maintained a comfortable lead.

A crucial moment came with 12:54 left, when Chimezie Okeke buried a three-pointer off an assist from Omar Rowe, extending the lead back to 52-32. That shot reignited Morehouse's offense, as they began executing cleaner possessions.

Benedict's fatigue became evident in the final 10 minutes. Morehouse's depth allowed fresh legs to apply defensive pressure, leading to six second-half steals. Brandon Peters and Amahn Decker were key disruptors, intercepting passes and pushing the pace.

With 5:43 left, Morehouse secured the game with a putback tip-in by Decker, increasing the margin. Benedict, visibly exhausted, continued to fight, but Morehouse's composure at the free-throw line sealed the win. In the closing minutes, Morehouse executed a deliberate offense, drawing fouls and converting from the charity stripe. Dondre Watson and Peters added insurance baskets.

Statistical Breakdown

Morehouse shot 44.6% from the field (25-of-56) and connected on seven three-pointers, while Benedict shot a slightly better 43.5% (20-of-46) but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4-of-18 attempts. Morehouse's defensive effort led to a +7 turnover margin (forcing 20 while committing 13) and a dominant 23-14 edge in points off turnovers. Despite being outrebounded 35-29, Morehouse's speed in transition and pressure defense made the difference.

Morehouse Statistical Leaders

• Cedric Taylor III – 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• JerMontae Hill – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
• Amahn Decker – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
• Omar Rowe – 10 points, 2 three-pointers, 2 assists
• Brandon Peters – 6 points, 2 steals, 1 assist

WAITING GAME

With the Morehosue game being the first of three critical contests to conclude, to determine the top seeds in the SIAC East, Morehouse would get on the bus and watch on their phones to see the other outcomes.  Clark-Atlanta and Allen were in a nail-bitter across the street in Columiba, while Savannah State was pulling away from Albany State in Savannah Georgia.  When the night was over, Clark-Atlanta would come from behind for victory and Albany State would fall.  The SIAC Conference office would ask each team to wait until Thursday to make any public announcements regarding seeding until the ruling about Monday's incident was official.  When the dust cleared, Morehouse would gain the #2 seed due to an advantage in the tie-breaker formula.  With the win, Morehouse (16-12, 14-7 SIAC) shifts its focus to the SIAC Tournament, where they'll face LeMoyne-Owen in a crucial first-round battle. Due to a scheduling conflict inside Forbes Arena, the game time has been moved up.  Tip-off is set for 10 AM on Saturday.  Tickets will only be $10 for the Breakfast and Ball opening round game and are available here.  For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.