During the second match-up between the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers and the Clark Atlanta University Panthers at Forbes Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse finished this game beating their conference rivals 85-79 after fending off the Panthers in double overtime. Morehouse's Omar Rowe would finish the game with a career-high 24 points, making multiple game-defining shots that aided in him leading his team to victory.
The first half of the game began with a relatively poor performance from the Tigers, filled with turnovers and poor shot selections. Morehouse trailed by as many as 20 points (27-7) with 8:38 remainting in the 1st half. Clark-Atlanta displayed their dominance over the Tigers, quickly putting up 16 points before Morehouse scored their first bucket. They maintained the lead by capitalizing on the Tigers' turnovers. Although the Maroon Tigers were trailing behind Clark, they kept the game within striking distance by showing good defensive play, limiting the Panthers to convert only seven points off the Tiger's turnovers. .
In the second half of the game, Morehouse would continue to chip at Clark's lead by creating better shot selections and utilizing defensive press plays to suppress the Panther's attempts to score. With the offensive efforts of Amahn Decker from the free throw line, making 75% at the line and inside the paint, Morehouse would proceed to close the deficit between Clark-Atlanta. Omar Rowe's layup off an offensive rebound after JerMontae Hill's missed free throw attempt would begin the Tiger's momentum, followed by Jaden Gray's three-pointer, sending them into the game's first overtime, 62-62.
Decker would be Morehouse's main contributor, getting five out of eight points scored during the first overtime, with the other three points being from Rowe, which would send them into double overtime, 70-70. The Tigers went into double overtime with a newfound assurance that they could and would win this game against Clark, scoring 15 points compared to the Panther's nine points. Dondre Watson would throw down a massive dunk, exciting the Morehouse fans, followed by Rowe's three-point shot, 83-76. The Panthers would answer back with a three-pointer, bringing them within four points, but Rowe's flashy dunk would seal Morehouse's win at the conclusion of regulation, 85-79. Overall, Morehouse did get off to a rough start, but they regained control of the game, showcasing how their team can perform well under the pressure of playing from behind.
The Tiger's top contributor was Omar Rowe, who finished the game with a season-high of 24 points, six rebounds, and one steal on 64.2% shooting, making 85.7% of his three-point shots. Amahn Decker contributed to this win with a double-double, scoring 19 points on 54.4% shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds. Another contributor was JerMontae Hill, who ended the game with 15 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals on 40% shooting. The entire team finished the game offensively with 43.1% shooting, 44.8% three-point shooting, an overall free throw percentage of 58.8%, 42 rebounds, and 10 turnovers.
The Maroon Tigers will compete Monday against Allen University in Columbus, South Carolina, at John Hurst Adams Gymnasium. Play begins at 7:30 PM. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.