Tigers remain on hot streak

  • Published
  • By Courtesy of Tyndall Tigers
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Tyndall Tigers men's varsity basketball team, after a long holiday break, returned to the hardwood to play the Ft. Benning Bandits in Southeastern Military Athletic Conference action Saturday. 

After a hard fought victory, the Tigers remain atop the conference standings beating Ft. Benning by a score of 76 to 67. 

The Tigers started quickly as they opened up a 13-point lead behind guard Melvin Smith's 11 first-half points. Ft. Benning went on a run at the end of the half to trim their deficit to three points; 34-31 at the intermission. 

In the second half, the Tigers opened up a 12-point lead, 62-50, with 7:11 remaining in the game. The Bandits fought back and went on a 9-2 run to come within five points; 64-59 with 3:49 remaining. After a timeout, the Tigers regrouped and closed the contest with a 12-8 run to take the win. 

Melvin Smith led the Tigers in scoring with a game high 26 points, followed by Marqus Armour with 11 points and Chris Walker and Greg Brown with 10 points each. Antonio Bazemore led in rebounding with 13. Smith also led in assists with five while Jared Austin had five steals. Rio Claytor led the Bandits in scoring with 15 points. 

The Tigers will travel to Eglin Air Force Base Jan. 19 and 20 to compete in the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Men and Women's Basketball Challenge, which will be held annually.