COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College men's tennis team split two matches on the first day of the SIAC Tennis Roundup.

The Tigers opened with a 9-0 victory over LeMoyne-Owen, and then dropped a 6-3 decision to Morehouse.

Benedict won two doubles matches, and then swept the top three singles matches. Four matches were won by default.

The Tigers got behind 3-0 after doubles play against Morehouse. The Tigers won the top three singles matches, with Darreus Wheeler pulling out a tough 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 10-4 victory over Jabez Beazer at No. 3 singles. Benedict's Giovanni Plater dropped a close match at No. 4 singles to Chris Hawthorne, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 9-11. Zibusiso Ndimande rallied after losing the first set at No. 1 singles to beat Kahai Hall, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Benedict 9, LeMoyne-Owen 0
Singles
No. 1 - Zibusiso Ndimande (BC) def. Drinkard Timms (LOC), 8-1
No. 2 – Shane Latchman (BC) def. Aston Davis (LOC), 8-0
No. 3 – Darreus Wheeler (BC) def. Lawrence Blaine (LOC), 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 – Giovanni Plater (BC) def. Donovan Mullings (LOC), default
No. 5 – Timothy Thornton (BC) def. LaMada Williams (LOC), default
No. 6 – Deangelo Smith (BC), default
Doubles
No. 1 – Ndimande/Latchman (BC) def. Timms/Davis (LOC), 8-2
No. 2 – Wheeler/Plater (BC) def. Blaine/Mullings (LOC), 8-0
No. 3 – Thornton/Smith (BC), default
 
Morehouse 6, Benedict 3
Singles
No. 1 - Zibusiso Ndimande (BC) def. Kahai Hall (MHC), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 – Shane Latchman (BC) def. Joseph Brooks (MHC), 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – Darreus Wheeler (BC) def. Jabez Beazer (MHC), 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 10-4
No. 4 – Chris Hawthorne (MHC) def. Giovanni Plater (BC), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 9-11
No. 5 – Noah Terry (MHC) def. Timothy Thornton (BC), 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – Nate Sinkler (MHC) def. Deangelo Smith (BC), 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
No. 1 – Hall/Beazer (MHC) def. Ndimande/Latchman (BC), 8-4
No. 2 – Hawthorne/Terry (MHC) def. Wheeler/Plater, 8-6
No. 3 – James Pressley/Sinkler def. Thornton/Smith (BC), 8-3