Dawgs Look to Avenge Early Season Loss When They Take on Talladega
Game 23: Fisk University Bulldogs (7-15, 5-7 HBCUAC) at Talladega College (12-7, 6-5 HBCUAC)
Date/Time: Thursday January 23, 2025, 7 p.m. (CST)
Watch: UEN Network
Location: Hawkins Student Activity Center – Talladega, Alabama
TALLADEGA, Ala. (JANUARY 22, 2025) – The Fisk Men's Basketball team will be back in conference action on Thursday when they travel to Alabama to take on Talladega College. This is the second meeting this season between the to schools. Talladega won the first one in Nashville on December 5, 2024 60-55.
"Their defense gave us fits," said Fisk head coach Jeremiah Crutcher. "We couldn't get in our sets comfortably and they were on our shooters. We will need to move the ball better and get open shots if we want to win. It will be even tougher playing them there."
Corey Sands of Talladega led all scorers with 28 points, but Fisk held their leading scores Lamont Sams to four points. For Fisk, Justin McNelkan went 5-of-10 from behind the arc, scoring 15 points. Doyel Cockrill III, who was coming off a lower body injury, scored 15 but was 0-of-4 from behind the three point line.
Fisk will need to figure out a way to hold Sands and Sams in check. Look for defensive stopper Lucious Jackson to get the first assignment on Sands, with Carrington Allen and Kailon Benton-Hamilton also getting a shot at the prolific shooter. Michael Ashley will guard Sams. Ashley will try to neutralize him by being more aggressive on the offensive end.
WMG Pick2Click
In games like this, when teams know each other so well, there is usually someone you don't expect to step up. Look for Carrington Allen to play an important role if the Bulldogs can pull off the upset.
Dawgs at a Glance
Don't Panic
At the press conference to announce Jeremiah Crutcher as the new coach, he told the Fisk faithful to be patient and don't panic. Crutcher has used the don't panic mantra all season. His thoughts are not to get too high when you win, and two low when you lose.
Cockrill Lives Up to Nickname
Nashville native Doyel Cockrill III was given the nickname "City Hero". His battles against Oakland University point guard Jaylon Jones since they were in middle school are still talked about by basketball savants in the city. The Cumberland University transfer has lived up to the hero name since donning the blue and gold of Fisk. He has earned conference weekly honors five times this season. He leads the conference with 58 made three pointers.
Coming From the Ashes
Grad student Michael Ashley made a last-minute decision to enroll into graduate school and continue his college career. Though he was undecided, Ashley stayed in the gym and weightroom during the offseason. The Atlanta native's 98 defensive rebounds is second in the HBCUAC in conference play.
Famous Grandfather
Junior Lucious Jackson is one of the top defenders on the team. His famous grandfather Luke Jackson was also a defensive stopper when he played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers. The elder Jackson was the fourth pick in the 1964 NBA Draft and won an NBA title in 1967 playing on the same frontline as Wilt Chamberlain.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will go to South Carolina to take on Voorhees College on Saturday.