MORROW, GA | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers used a dominant second-half surge to defeat the Miles Golden Bears 71–56 Friday night in the semifinals of the SIAC Basketball Tournament at the Clayton County Convocation Center, a venue Morehouse has dubbed "Forbes Arena South." Entering the tournament as the #1 seed from the SIAC East, the Maroon Tigers leaned on a balanced attack and strong defensive effort to advance to the conference championship game.
Josiah Lawson carried the scoring load in the first half, while Sincere Moore took over offensively in the second half, helping Morehouse pull away from a tightly contested game. Morehouse improved to 21–9 overall with the win while Miles, which entered the game at 20–8, saw its season come to an end.
First Half
The Maroon Tigers struck first when Ebuka Peter Okechukwu finished a layup just 27 seconds into the contest off an assist from Brandon Peters, giving Morehouse an early 2–0 lead. Miles answered quickly and the teams traded baskets throughout the opening minutes as both squads looked to establish rhythm in the halfcourt.
Midway through the first half, Morehouse began to gain momentum with its defensive pressure. A steal by Sincere Moore led to a transition layup that pushed the Maroon Tigers ahead, while Peters added another fast-break bucket moments later to extend the lead.
The Morehouse bench also provided a spark during a key stretch. Blake Pollock tipped in an offensive rebound, Caleb Thompson converted a three-point play, and Josiah Lawson drilled a three-pointer that ignited the crowd and helped Morehouse take a 17–12 lead.
Miles responded with a late push as a Golden Bear scored inside and from the perimeter to keep the Golden Bears within striking distance. The Golden Bears briefly cut the deficit to one with a pair of late three-pointers before the teams headed into halftime.
Despite Miles' surge, Morehouse maintained a 33–32 lead at the break after Sincere Moore knocked down a jumper in the final minutes of the half.
Second Half
Miles briefly took its only lead of the night early in the second half when Najashi Tolefree scored on a fast-break layup to make it 34–33. The Maroon Tigers immediately responded.
Brandon Peters knocked down a three-pointer on the next possession to put Morehouse back in front, and the Maroon Tigers began to take control. Josiah Lawson followed with a three-point play and then converted a steal into a fast-break layup, igniting a decisive run.
Morehouse continued to apply defensive pressure, forcing Miles into turnovers that turned into easy scoring opportunities. The Maroon Tigers scored repeatedly off Golden Bear miscues and pushed the lead to double digits midway through the second half.
Moore provided the offensive spark during the stretch, hitting multiple perimeter shots and attacking the lane. Lawson added key rebounds and inside baskets, while Jared White contributed a timely jumper that extended the lead to 43–40 before Morehouse gradually pulled away.
Miles struggled to regain momentum as the Maroon Tigers' defense limited second-chance opportunities and forced contested shots. Down the stretch, Morehouse controlled the tempo and closed the game from the free-throw line to secure the 71–56 victory.
Team Comparison
- Field Goals: Morehouse 26–59 (44.1%) | Miles 20–51 (39.2%)
- Three-Pointers: Morehouse 7–15 | Miles 5–20
- Free Throws: Morehouse 12–18 | Miles 11–14
- Rebounds: Morehouse 36 | Miles 32
- Turnovers: Morehouse 6 | Miles 12
- Points Off Turnovers: Morehouse 22 | Miles 6
- Bench Points: Morehouse 32 | Miles 12
Morehouse Leaders
Up Next
With the win, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers advance to the SIAC Championship Game where they will face #1 West Tuskegee on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 PM at the Clayton County Convocation Center. Admission for Saturday's championship games is $25 for adults and $5 for students, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. 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.
