COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College center
Marcus Goode scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down a career-high 21 rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 66-59 victory over Kentucky State on Saturday at the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena in their SIAC opener.
Goode was a dominating presence, hitting 10-of-14 shots from the floor, and made 14-of-20 free throws. He grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, getting many of his points on put-backs.
“He's got a lot on his shoulders, and I'm glad he's embracing it” said Benedict Coach
Fred Watson. “We wouldn't be 2-0 without him.”
Another key for the Tigers, now 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in the SIAC, was the play of guard
Antrjuan Albright. Early in the day, Watson got word that Albright had a fracture in a toe, and was likely out for the game. Albright spent much of the morning in the trainer's room receiving treatment and was fitted with a pad in his shoe. Albright finished with 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers, helping to complete Benedict's inside-outside game with Goode.
“He came in and gutted it out and played through the pain,” Watson said of Albright.
The Throrobreds (0-2 overall and 0-2 in the SIAC), had a 22-19 lead in the first half before the Tigers scored 10 straight points, with Albright hitting a pair of 3-pointers. Kentucky State came back with a pair of 3-pointers of their own before
Branden Herring scored a layup at the buzzer for a 34-30 Benedict lead at the half.
A 13-0 run early in the second half for Benedict gave the Tigers a 50-34 lead. Kentucky State never got closer than six points the rest of the way. Watson said the key during that span was playing both point guards
Cassius Bell and
Mark Young at the same time to help get the team into its offensive sets.
“Playing Mark and Cassius at the same time really helped turn it around,” Watson said. “That was a good move by the coaching staff to make that adjustment.”
Kevin Smith led the Thorobreds with 21 points, while Patrick Dawson had 11 and Austin Rich added 10.
Kentucky State shot 30 percent for the game, including just 23 percent in the second half (7-of-30).
The Tigers return to action on Monday, hosting Lane in an SIAC doubleheader. The women's game starts at 5:30 p.m., with the men's game to follow.
