COLUMBIA, SC | Morehouse turned a two-point halftime deficit into a convincing second-half surge on Thursday night, pulling away from Allen for an 81-68 road win. The Maroon Tigers erupted for 45 points after the break, using timely perimeter shooting and disruptive defense to flip the game. Josiah Lawson paced the way with 22 points, providing a major lift as Morehouse seized control midway through the second half and never looked back.
First Half
Allen came out with early energy and grabbed the game's first separation, pushing in front 9-0 before Morehouse settled in. The Maroon Tigers answered with a much-needed spark from the perimeter—Sincere Key knocked down multiple triples to stop the bleeding and get Morehouse back within striking distance.
The Yellow Jackets rebuilt their cushion late in the half and stretched the margin to 28-17 with 5:12 left, putting Morehouse on its heels. That's when the Maroon Tigers' defense and pace changed the tone. Morehouse closed the final five minutes on a 19-10 burst, forcing turnovers and turning stops into points.
Lawson consistently attacked the rim to keep the pressure on, Jermontae Hill delivered a dunk in the final 30 seconds, and Brandon Peters buried a three in the closing moments to cut the deficit to 38-36 at the break—setting the stage for a second-half takeover.
Second Half
Allen opened the half with the first punch again, scoring the first four points to extend the lead to 42-36. Morehouse responded with poise and balance—Sincere Moore drilled a three to steady things, and Hill finished inside to keep the Maroon Tigers within one possession.
The turning point arrived around the 12-minute mark. After Lawson tied the game at 44-44 with a three, Morehouse finally grabbed its first lead at 46-45 on a Lawson finish with 12:31 remaining—and from there, the Maroon Tigers didn't trail again.
Morehouse immediately added separation with an 8-0 run, highlighted by Hill's free throws and another Key three that pushed the advantage to 52-45. Each time Allen threatened to counter, the Maroon Tigers answered—Lawson continued to pressure the paint, Jared White knocked down a key three to maintain breathing room, and Morehouse cashed in at the line down the stretch to turn a working margin into a comfortable finish.
Morehouse outscored Allen, 45-30 in the half, with the difference being Morehouse's ability to create extra possessions with pressure: the Maroon Tigers forced 22 Allen turnovers and turned them into points, while the bench provided steady production throughout the second half.
Team comparison
- FG: Morehouse 25-50 (50.0%) | Allen 27-58 (46.6%)
- 3PT: Morehouse 11-21 (52.4%) | Allen 6-18 (33.3%)
- FT: Morehouse 20-28 (71.4%) | Allen 8-13 (61.5%)
- Rebounds: Allen 39 | Morehouse 26
- Assists: Allen 12 | Morehouse 10
- Turnovers: Allen 22 | Morehouse 15
- Steals: Morehouse 12 | Allen 7
- Points off turnovers: Morehouse 25 | Allen 18
- Bench points: Morehouse 43 | Allen 20
Statistical leaders
Up next
Morehouse will remain in Columbia, S.C. and return to action Saturday against Benedict, looking to carry the second-half momentum into the next stop of the road swing. 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.
