In Saturday’s first installment of the “Battle for the AUC,” Clark Atlanta College defeated Morehouse 70-62. The rivalry stuffed L.S. Epps Gymnasium to capability in what is going to go down as one other basic showdown, transferring Clark Atlanta to its seventh straight win within the new 12 months.
The hostile atmosphere Clark Atlanta followers and college students supplied would ultimately show an excessive amount of for the younger Morehouse group.
After the sport, Clark Atlanta Coach Alfred Jordan stated, “Our guys knew the implications of this sport within the standings and accepted the problem. Hats off to [Morehouse] coach [Douglas] Whitlter and his group for making the sport a battle,”
Solely capturing 8-32 from the sector, Morehouse discovered themselves down 37-23 to shut the half. Shemani Miller and Graduate Switch from Morehouse to Clark Atlanta, Elijah Stewart led the best way for Clark Atlanta within the first half; Miller scored 11 factors, and Stewart scored 10.
Though Morehouse missed many pictures, the primary half noticed six ties and lots of lead adjustments. Neither group may draw back till a Clark Atlanta run with 3 minutes within the half noticed them go up 5 factors (25-20), and that was sufficient momentum to run the rating as much as 37-23.
“That was probably the most hostile atmosphere we’ve performed on this season, however I feel they’re prepared now. I used to be just a little involved how effectively they might play in that, they usually didn’t play effectively early, however as the sport went on, these youngsters had been large time for us,” stated Whittler.
Morehouse got here out firing on all cylinders within the second half, beginning the half with a 12-5 run. The run minimize the result in 7 factors, with Jaden Grey scoring 4 of the group’s 12 factors.
Standout freshman wing Cedric Taylor III additionally discovered his stride within the second half, scoring 15 of his game-high 17 factors, offering Morehouse with a lift the group desperately wanted.
Morehouse minimize the result in six late into the second half, however the large sport capability, veteran presence, and fandom within the gymnasium would maintain Clark Atlanta forward. Andrew Stewart, twin brother of Elijah Stewart, would ultimately catch fireplace after scoring solely two factors within the first half to complete with 14.
Standout guard and this 12 months’s SIAC main scorer, Chris Martin, would additionally discover his stride after a sluggish first half to complete the sport with 13 factors. A late basket by Martin with beneath a minute left to play would put Clark Atlanta up six factors and stall a late-game effort by Morehouse to formally put the sport out of attain.
The second sport of the “Battle for the AUC” sequence will happen in Forbes Enviornment on the Morehouse campus on February seventeenth. That sport may have vital implications, with it being Morehouse’s Senior day, and the 2 groups shall be preventing for place within the standings. Every group will solely have two video games left after the February seventeenth sport.
