Dawgs Look to Defense to Try to Stop Losing Streak

Game 18: Fisk Bulldogs (5-12, 3-5 HBCUAC) vs. Tougaloo College (9-4, 4-1 HBCUAC)

Date/Time: Friday January 3, 2025, 8 p.m. (CST)

Watch: UEN Network

Live Stats:  Tougaloo (MS) vs. Fisk (TN) | PrimeTime | Fri, Jan. 3, 2025 8:00 PM CST

Location: Dr. Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center – Talladega, Alabama

TALADEGA, Ala. - Fisk University Head coach Jeremiah Crutcher learned some things in the first half of his debut season as a collegiate head coach. One important thing was the toughness of the teams in the HBCU Athletic Conference. His team has weapons on the offensive end, but now he is looking for his players to show that same tenacity when they don't have the ball.

"At this level, pretty much everyone can score, the key is stopping your man from doing it," said Crutcher. "Defensive leads to easy offense. You have to get easy baskets to win. We weren't good in transition because we didn't get many steals. We have to be more aggressive if we want to be successful."

Key Matchup

Tougaloo comes in as the reigning regular season conference champions. Leading scorer Antonio Patterson has scored double figures in 11 of the 13 games that he has played in. Patterson also leads the team averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. Look for Fisk to run multiple players on Patterson to try to slow him down.

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 is averaging 19.9 points per game.

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 66 defensive rebounds lead 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 play in the HBCU Athletic Conference's Stillman POD on Monday and Tuesday against SUNO and Dillard.