TALLADEGA the only HBCU Basketball Program Remaining in Action ADVANCES TO NATIONAL NAIA Final Four
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Talladega Tornadoes continued their outstanding season with a 77-69 win over Concordia (Neb.) Saturday evening in the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Tornadoes improve to 31-5 on the year while the Bulldogs conclude their season at 28-7.
Kamron Brice poured in 20 points on seven-of-12 shooting, including six-of-11 from downtown. Cam Potts registered a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 11 assists. Darryl Bakernotched 10 points and six rebounds in the win.
Jervay Green added eight points while Markel Williams and Amir Yusuf each added six markers.
In the first half, Potts led all scorers with 11 points. He also distributed six assists in the first 20 minutes of action. Darryl Baker, Kamron Brice, and Markel Williams had six points apiece in the opening stanza.
The game was tightly contested throughout. The Tornadoes held a 26-24 lead before Potts hit a pair of free throws at the 8:22 mark. A driving lay-up by Baker pushed the margin to six, 30-24, at the 7:13 mark. Moments later, Baker found Green for a three-point bucket, giving the squad a nine-point advantage, 33-24.
Concordia cut the margin to five but Talladega quickly answered. Leading 38-32 with under a minute to go, Potts connected with Williams for a three-point basket. Up 41-34, Potts was fouled and made a free throw with 31 ticks on the clock. After snagging the defensive board with eight seconds to play, Potts found Williams for a shot from downtown at the buzzer, giving the Tornadoes a 45-34 edge at the break.
Talladega started the second half on a 10-0 run, giving the home squad a 20-point lead. Brice’s jump shot started the spurt. Potts hit a jumper and found Green for a three-point basket. A steal and lay-up by Potts cemented the run.
The Tornadoes kept a double-digit lead throughout – and extended the advantage to 22 at 70-48 when Potts found Brice for another shot from distance with 5:07 to play. A 14-1 run by the Bulldogs pulled the designated visitors within nine with 38 seconds to go.
With 31 seconds remaining, Edwin Louis was fouled and he calmly connected on a pair of charity tosses. The teams traded points down the stretch but Concordia (Neb.) could get no closer than eight thanks in part to the solid foul shooting.
For the game, Talladega hit 26-of-59 from the floor (44.1 percent), including an outstanding 11-of-26 from the three-point line (42.3 percent). The Tornadoes forced 12 miscues and turned them into 14 points. The squad dished out 16 assists.
Talladega returns to action Monday in the National Semifinals against Thomas More (Ky.) at 7 p.m. CST.
(Story and Information Courtesy of Talladega Athletics )