COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a strong second-half performance to defeat Paine College 86-60 on Monday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
The Tigers held a 42-34 lead at the half, but outscored the Lions 44-26 in the second half to cruise to their season-opening victory.
Benedict held Paine to 32.26 percent shooting (10-of-31) in the second half after they shot 56 percent (14-of-25) in the first half. The Tigers were consistent from the floor, shooting better than 50 percent in each half and finishing at 53.7 percent (29-of-54).
Dayvon Gates led the Tigers with 15 points, with 11 points in the first half.
Langston Bailey scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half.
Malachi Chavis led the second-half surge, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes. Ten Benedict players scored in the second half.
Benedict had a big advantage at the free-throw line. The Tigers went 20-of-28 from the line, while Paine attempted only eight free throws, and sank four.
The Tigers broke away from a close game midway through the first half, using an 11-0 run to take a 38-28 lead with 2:52 on the clock. A pair of free throws by Gates gave Benedict a lead, 29-28, that they never would relinquish. The Tigers took a 42-34 lead at the break.
Benedict scored the first seven points of the second half to increase their lead to 49-34 as
Greg Spate opened the second half with a 3-pointer and the Tigers maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
A layup by
Kendale Brown II gave Benedict its largest lead, 86-57, with 1:23 left in the game.
The Tigers are back in action on Friday, hosting the Coker University Cobras at 6 p.m. in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
