Courtesy of the SIAC:
Game 1 (Men)
#6E Clark Atlanta – 79, #7W Central State – 64
Box Score | CAU Post-Game Interview | Central State Post-Game Interview
The 2022 SIAC Basketball Tournament started off strong as the Clark Atlanta Panthers team defeated the Marauders of Central State, 79-64. Central State entered the game undermanned with six players officially dressing for the Marauders. Consequently enough this was the ultimate downfall of the Marauders as they struggled mightily with Clark Atlanta’s bigs down low. Willie Green of Central State led all scorers with 23 with Clark Atlanta’s Justin Longstreet and Chris Martin each trailing with 17 points each. The Panthers will advance and take on the Lemoyne-Owen Magicians in round two of the tournament on Tuesday at noon.
Game 2 (Men)
#4W Kentucky State – 53, #5E Fort Valley State – 73
Box Score | Fort Valley Post-Game Interview | Kentucky State Post-Game Interview
Fort Valley State was able to dismantle Kentucky State in the first round of the SIAC Championship tournament.
Kentucky State started the game red hot beyond the arc, giving them the early lead. Kentucky shot 50 percent from three in the first half, hitting seven total three point shots. However, Fort Valley State fought back hard and managed to tie the game going into the half. At the end of the first period, the score was tied at 33.
Everything in the first half indicated the game would come down to the wire. The second half told a different story.
Fort Valley made some defensive adjustments in the second half. They applied pressure on the perimeter, limiting Kentucky State to only one three-point made out of 11 total attempts in the second half. Fort Valley State’s stellar defense opened up opportunities for them on offense. The Wildcats outscored Kentucky State 40 to 23 in the second half.
Fort Valley State’s Freshman of the Year honoree, K.J. Doucet was in a groove all game. He finished the game with a double-double, scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Fort Valley State is looking to carry their momentum into the second round of the tournament against the No. 1 seed and West Division Champions, Miles College.
Game 3 (Women’s)
#4W (LeMoyne-Owen), 45 vs. #5E (Fort Valley State), 48
Box Score | LeMoyne-Owen Post-Game Press Conference| Fort Valley State Post-Game Press Conference
The SIAC tournament in years past has never been shy when it comes to drama filled basketball. The four and five seed matchup pitted the LeMoyne-Owen Magicians against the Wildcats of Fort Valley State. The game was action packed and drama filled throughout. As the minutes trickled away, the game continued its frantic and aggressive pace. The game came all the way down to one shot. Down three, LeMoyne-Owen had a shot to tie the game and it unfortunately bounced off the side of the rim and missed sealing a victory for the Wildcats. Fort Valley State was led by Torri Myers who caught fire in the third quarter on her way to leading all scorers with 20 points. Up next for the Lady Wildcats is a date with the Lady Tigers of Savannah State, which sures to be a matchup to lookout for.
Game 4 (Men’s)
#4W (Spring Hill), 75 vs. #5E (Albany State), 66
Box Score | Spring Hill Post-Game Press Conference | Albany State Post-Game Press Conference
Spring Hill College opened up the SIAC Championship Tournament with a convincing win over Albany State. Both teams struggled to find a groove offensively in the first half, but it was the 40 percent from behind the three-point line that gave Spring Hill a one point lead going into halftime.
Despite Albany State finding their touch inside the paint, it was not enough to match the efficient three point shooting from Spring Hill. Spring Hill finished the game shooting 50 percent from the three point line, hitting nine total three-pointers.
All Conference honoree, Beril Kabamba followed up his outstanding regular season with a great post season debut scoring 22 points and snagging 11 rebounds. Spring Hill will need Kabamba to have another great performance in their next game, as they take on the No. 1 seed and East Division Champs, Morehouse College.
Game 5 (Women)
#4E (Clark Atlanta), 68 vs. #5W (Kentucky State), 78
Box Score | Kentucky State Post-Game Press Conference
Day one of the 2022 SIAC Basketball Tournament was filled with mystifying basketball from all teams but no matchup captivated the crowd more than the matchup between the Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta and the Thorobreds of Kentucky State. The Thorobreds started the game off in a full court press which stifled the Panthers into 24 turnovers. The Panthers were able to slowly, but surely able to creep back into the game, but fell in the fourth quarter, with Kentucky State securing a 78-68 victory. Clark Atlanta guard Reagan Jackson put up a valiant 24 points in the loss to lead all scorers. Next stop for the Thorobreds is a date between the #1 Seed and West Division Champs Tuskegee Golden Tigers set for Wednesday at 4:45 pm at Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.
For more information about the 2022 SIAC Basketball Championship Tournament, click here.
