Tuskegee Golden Tigers win in final seconds over Benedict

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Freshman forward Joshua Culver scored just five points the entire game, but his final three points of the contest were the biggest as Tuskegee defeated Benedict 68-67 on the road Saturday afternoon in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play at HRC Arena.

Leading 63-60 with 3:28 remaining, Tuskegee (6-4, 2-1 SIAC) fell behind on successive possessions by Benedict (8-4, 3-1 SIAC) as the Tigers took a 65-63 lead with 1:39 to play in the game. Senior Camden Foster tied the game at 65-all when he knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:21 remaining, before Quayshun Hawkins hit a jumper to put Benedict back up 67-65 with 50 seconds to play.

That is where Culver and the Golden Tigers answered.

The sophomore took a pass from fellow freshman, Daniel Roach, with 35 seconds to play and tied the game at 67-all. Following a missed three-pointer from Hawkins, the Golden Tigers Elijah McMillan grabbed the defensive rebound setting up the final possession for Tuskegee.

Foster missed a three-pointer with just four seconds remaining, however, Culver grabbed the rebound and was fouled. The freshman hit the second of two free throws, giving Benedict a chance with just three seconds remaining but their final shot rimmed out for the Tuskegee victory.

Foster led three players in double figures for Tuskegee with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including connecting of 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Austin Cherry added 14 off the bench – connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers – while Kevin May added 13 points and a season-high eight assists.

The Golden Tigers shot 52.1 (25-of-48) percent from the floor and 40 (12-of-30) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 60 (6-of-10) percent from the free throw line, while winning the rebounding battle 32-25.

Christopher Spencer led Benedict with 15 points, while Hawkins added 14 and Brennan Reynard 13 in the loss.

Tuskegee travels to Orangeburg (S.C.) to face Claflin University Monday night at 7:30 pm (est) in the final game of the two-game South Carolina road trip.

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