Tigers Hold On In Final Minutes For Home Win Over Bethune-Cookman

John Walker III scored 21 points as he helped sparked a late run which allowed the TSU Tigers to return to the win column during a 69-62 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night.
 
The Tigers finally broke a string of slow starts as they set the tone early with an 8-0 lead aided by two three-pointers from P.J. Henry and Davon Barnes within the first three minutes. BCU would get back into the game with a trio of three-pointers as they trailed 10-9 but TSU countered with an 11-3 run led by Walker III’s five points along with stingy defense as BCU was held to 1-of-8 shooting.
 
However, the Wildcats fought back and answered with a 9-2 surge of their own to draw within 23-21 but TSU rode the hot hands of Karl Nicholas and Henry as the duo combined to score nine points for a 9-4 run which gave TSU a 32-25 lead at the 3:21 mark. A Kevin Davis trey cut the margin to 32-28 but TSU scored the final four points of the first half to claim a 36-28 halftime lead.
 
TSU led by 10 to open the second half but the Wildcats refused to go away after a 13-6 run fueled by two three-pointers which trimmed TSU’s lead to 44-41 after Joe French’s three-pointer. Henry would end the TSU drought with a basket as Kolby Granger, Henry and Walker III all scored over the next 3:20 to extend the lead back to eight at the halfway mark of the second half.
 
The Wildcats would heat up over the next four minutes as they were perfect from the field and found themselves down 57-56 with 5:34 left but Henry answered with a big three-pointer for a 60-56 TSU margin. But once again, BCU clawed back as a Kevin Davis block led to his own bucket as he tied the contest at 60-all with 3:44 remaining.
 
With 3:25 left, Walker III was fouled and drained two big free throws and TSU forced a missed BCU basket. On the ensuing possession, Walker III had great position inside and Granger fed him a perfect pass as TSU led 64-60 at the 2:51 mark. BCU would miss a free throw on the next offensive attempt but TSU turned the ball over. Both teams couldn’t capitalize with a miss on its next attempts and TSU avoided a dagger as the Wildcats missed back-to-back open three-pointers with 1:03 left.
 
One second after narrowly avoiding a turnover, TSU committed a costly turnover on the inbounds pass as the Wildcats drew to within 64-62 after the steal and layup with 57 seconds left. Davon Barnes was fouled with seven seconds left on the next possession and hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 65-62 margin. BCU missed its next three-point attempt and Barnes sealed the deal with four straight free throws for the final margin.
 
Walker scored 21 points followed by 14 from Henry and 11 from Barnes. Nicholas had 10 rebounds while Henry dished out six assists.
 
TSU is back in action on Saturday at Grambling State for a 5:30 p.m. tip.