Tuskegee Golden Tigers Claim 2014 SIAC Tournament Title - Mar 9, 2014

The Tuskegee Golden Tigers defeated the Fort Valley State Wildcats 88-80 in overtime to win the 2014 SIAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Saturday night at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham.

With the win, the Tigers (17-11) will automatically advance to the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. Tournament seeds and game locations will be announced by the NCAA Sunday evening.

The contest opened with Tuskegee gaining an 8-2 lead in the opening 5 1/2 minutes of play. FVSU responded with a 6-2 run to cut the margin to 10-8 with 13:20 remaining in the first half. The Tigers then responded with another 8-2 run over the next two minutes to take an 18-10 lead. Following that run, the teams began to trade baskets until an FVSU 9-1 run over the final 90 seconds of the first half to tie the game 39-39 at halftime.

In the second half, the teams traded baskets with neither team claiming more than an eight-point lead. Late in the second half, Tuskegee's Graham Olatunji (6'4''-G/F) tied the game at 73-73 with a free throw with 1:16 remaining in regulation. FVSU's Corey Hunter (6'8''-F/C) scored on a jumper with under a minute to give the Wildcats a two-point lead. With 29 seconds remaining in the half, Javier McKinney (6'2''-SG) nailed a jumper to tie the contest at 75-75. FVSU had a shot to win the game in regulation, but the possession fell short.

In overtime, Tuskegee outscored Fort Valley State 13-5 shooting 33.3 percent in the extra period and making 7-of-7 free throw attempts. McKinney and Camden Foster each had four points in the extra period for Tuskegee.

In a contest that registered 11 ties and four lead changes, Tuskegee shot 37.5 percent from the field while making 37-of-51 free throws. FVSU shot 44.4 percent from the field and connected on 23-of-34 attempts from the free throw line.

Corey Hunter (6'8''-F/C) led FVSU (21-9) with 20 points and five rebounds off the bench. Brandon Davey (6'6''-F) added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Ralph Wilson finished with 12 points and three rebounds.

Graham Olatunji (6'4''-G/F) led Tuskegee with 18 points and four rebounds while Richard Dixon added 17 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Javier McKinney (6'2''-SG) tallied 15 points and three assists while Camden Foster tallied 13 points and eight rebounds.

Courtesy of SIAC

SIAC Tournament Final: Tuskegee - Fort Valley State 88-80
SIAC Tournament Semifinals:
Tuskegee - Kentucky State 90-68
Fort Valley State - Paine 64-61

All-SIAC 1st Team 2014

Gaines

Adkins

Joye

Davey

Davis