Crutcher, Peters and Covington post career-highs in win over AAMU
Nashville, Tenn. - Jeremiah Crutcher and Wil Peters scored
career-highs to help Tennessee State University defeat Alabama A&M, 80-77,
at the Gentry Center, Tuesday (12/15) night.
The Tigers (3-8, 0-2) picked up their second straight
victory, hitting 48 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle
against the Bulldogs, 46-32.
Several players picked up a career number with Crutcher
posting a game-high 25 points (11-21) and five assists. Peters scored 17 points
(5-of-11) connecting a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, including four
with under a minute to help hold of AAMU's comeback.
Jacquan Nobles scored 13 points from 5-of-10 shooting with
Robert Covington pulling in a career-high, 10 rebounds, to go with nine points.
The backcourt duo of Nashville natives, Crutcher and Peters, combined for 20 points in the first half. After trailing AAMU, 32-20, with 5:33 remaining, TSU jumped on a 10-2
run to narrow the lead, 34-30, at the 4:32 mark. The Bulldogs outscored TSU in
the final minutes of the half, 7-6, to hold the lead at the intermission,
41-36.
After two lead changes under the 10-minute mark in the
second half, TSU took the lead for good when Peters hit two free throws to go
up, 64-62 (7:40). The Tigers then extended the lead to their largest of the night with 6:41 on the clock, 68-63.
Cornelius Hester hit a three-point shot from the right
side with the Bulldogs rallying on a 12-10 run, closing the gap, 78-77, with 19
seconds left. A pair of free
throws by Covington added to TSU's lead, 80-77, with seven seconds left
in the game. AAMU's last second three-point try with the clock winding down failed.
The Bulldogs (3-4) shot 41 percent from the floor and 47 percent
from behind the arc. Hester led AAMU in scoring with 19 points (8-of-12)
connecting 3-of-5 three pointers. Bo Amusa tallied 12 points (4-of-7) and
Jonathan Inman registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
TSU will return to action when they travel across town to
play Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
