By Chris Megginson Media Relations Stillman
COCHRAN, Ga. – For the first time since 2015, Stillman College men’s basketball was looking to end a three-game win streak. The Tigers did so Saturday with a 67-59 Southern States Athletic Conference road win at Middle Georgia State University.
The win, coupled with a loss by Life University, elevates Stillman to second place in the SSAC after entering the day in a four-way tie for third place.
Stillman trailed the first three minutes of action, but after going down by two, Jamar Jackson swiped a steal and Derrick Finklea hit Khalil Johnson for a go-ahead 3-pointer, 5-4, with 16:52 to play in the first half. The Tigers went on to lead most of the game.
After leading 24-18 at halftime, Stillman shot 65.4% in the second half and out-paced Middle Georgia (7-7, 3-5 SSAC), 43-41, in the final 20 minutes.
MGA took two brief leads in the second half, 35-32 and 39-38, but Johnson’s 3-pointers put an end to both of them. The last one sparked an 11-0 run to give Stillman a double-digit lead on a Jackson 3-pointer, 49-39, with 7:38 remaining. Middle Georgia got no closer than eight points after that, while Stillman led by as many as 14 points, 63-49, with 3:44 to play.
Johnson led all players with 23 points, including 10 in the first half.
Finklea scored 12 and had eight assists and six rebounds in his first game since December. Marcus Bates Jr was two boards shy of a double-double with 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
Middle Georgia was led by Brice Martin’s 18 points, which all came in the second half, and 15 points by Champ Dawson.
Stillman (9-7, 5-3) will return to Birthright Alumni Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12 to take on first-year SSAC member Life University (12-3, 5-3) at 7:30 p.m.
