COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College men's basketball team fell to the University of West Georgia 74-69 on Wednesday night.
Benedict falls to 1-2 overall, while the University of West Georgia improves to 1-2.
Joseph Staton led the Tigers with 22 points, while hitting five shots from behind the arc.
Tajh Green added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Deon Joyner also scored 12 points.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 14-9 lead after a layup by Green. The Wolves would then go on a 15-2 run to take a 24-16 lead with 10:28 remaining in the first half. Green scored on a layup to give the Tigers a 36-35 lead with 49 seconds remaining, but the Wolves regained the lead on a jumper for a 37-36 lead at the half.
A three-pointer by Staton put the Tigers on top early in the second half 39-37. The game went back and forth throughout the remainder of the second half. The score was all knotted up at 60 with 6:34 left after a dunk by the Wolves.
West Georgia would go on a 7-1 run to take a six-point lead with 3:15 remaining. Back-to-back contested three-pointers by Benedict's Staton tied the game at 67-67 with 2:33 left in the second half.
The Tigers ran out of steam as they were outscored 7-2 in the final two minutes of the game. The Wolves grabbed two offensive rebounds in one crucial stretch, resulting in a layup for a 71-67 lead with 36 seconds on the clock.
West Georgia outscored Benedict 15-10 in points off turnovers. The Tigers looked good in the paint as they outscored the Wolves 34-24 in this category.
Benedict will host Bluefield State College on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the HRC arena.
