After a quadruple overtime home loss to the SIAC's #2 team, a road win against the #1 team seemed unlikely, but that's exactly what happened when Morehouse knocked off the Claflin University Panthers, 87-84, in overtime.
The upset win was all the more unlikely because leading scorer Tyrius Walker had left the previous game with a neck injury and second-leading scorer Ayinde Russell was missing a second straight game, because of a back injury he suffered in the Clark Atlanta game.
But the Maroon Tigers reserves stepped up, including Jordan Wallace and Michael Olmert who came of the bench to score 21 and 15 points, respectively. Wallace added five rebounds and Olmert chipped in five assists.
Morehouse also got another big game from Omar Alston, who not only posted 11 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals, but scored the tying basket, at the buzzer, in regulation.
Morehouse led for most of the first half, including by 11 points with five minutes remaining. The Panthers chipped away at the lead and cut the Morehouse advantage to 41-40 at the half.
Claflin rallied early in the second half and built a nine-point lead midway through the period. Three-pointers by Wallace and Michael Olmert and two layups by Martravious Little help Morehouse forge a 13-4 run and tie the score at 67.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the way, until a jumper by Tyler Thompson gave the Panthers a 75-73 lead with 1:30 left in regulation. The Panthers had the chance to extend the lead, but Morehouse rebounded the missed front end of a one-and-one free throw.
After two Morehouse misses, Alston stuck a jumper to tie the score.
In the overtime, Walker scored six of the Tigers' 12 points. He hit a jumper and four free throws, including two from the line, with three seconds remaining. Walker finished with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Most of his points came at the free-throw line where he was 11 of 14.
Little posted 10 points and three rebounds.
Four Panthers recorded double figures, led by Jaleel Charles, with 15 and Ryan McNeil-Moses, with 14.
Morehouse raised its record to 12-8; 6-6 SIAC. Claflin, voted today as the #7 in the NCAA South Region, slid to 14-6; 9-3 SIAC.
The Maroon Tigers will travel to Benedict, Saturday, at 3 p.m., before returning home, February 13, at 7 p.m., for a rematch against the Clark Atlanta Panthers.
