Dawgs Fall to Talladega

NASHVILLE (DECEMBER 5, 2024) – The Fisk University Bulldogs led most of the game but couldn't close it out, as the fell to the Talladega College Tornadoes (8-2, 2-0 HBCUAC) 60-55 in a HBCU Athletic Conference East Division game from Nashville.  

The Bulldogs (4-9, 2-2 HBCUAC), played without starting point guard Mark Cooper and reserve Ty Coley. After the game was tied at 11, the Bulldogs caught fire, scoring 14 of the next 16 points to go ahead 25-13. Fisk sustained the lead going into the half leading 36-23. Justin McNelkan led the charge with 12 points. Freshman Chase Bell added eight points off the bench, hitting both of his three-point shots and adding two free throws.

Fisk started the second half slowly, and the Tornadoes were able to chip into the lead, eventually at 53 with 3:53 left. Fisk only scored two points the rest of the way, as they couldn't solve Talladega tough man-to-man defense and the hot shooting of Corey Sands, as he scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the second half. Talladega held Fisk to 30% shooting in the half.

"It was a tale of two halves," said Fisk head coach Jeremiah Crutcher. "We played well early, and we couldn't by a basket in late. Their guy got hot, and we got cold. We knew they played hard but couldn't figure them out. We will be fine. We have to get ready for Saturday."

McNelkan led Fisk with 15 points. HBCUAC leading scorer Doyel Cockrill III was held to 11, while Bell had his career-high of 11 points. Michael Ashley had a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Bulldogs will finish their two-game homestand with a conference game against Voorhees University on Saturday.

Talladega (60)
Lamont Sams 2-5 0-1 4, Wilfred Campbell 0-1 1-2 1, Malachi Chavis 0-3 0-0 0, Tre Simmons 2-7 0-0 4, Xzavier Gamoy-Valcin 0-0 0-0 0, Arthur Williams 2-5 1-1 5, Corey Sands 9-17 4-5 28, Derek Burditt 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Brewer 5-8 1-2 11, Shaun Walker 2-7 3-4 7. Totals 22-55 10-15 60

Fisk (55)
Doyel Cockrill III 4-10 6-6 14, Chase Bell 3-4 2-2 11, Lucious Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Justin McNelkan 5-10 0-0 15, Mitch Seay 2-7 0-0 4, Michael Ashley 2-8 1-2 5, Kailon Benton-Hamilton 2-9 0-0 4, Solomon Mustafa-Reid 0-1 0-0 0, Ty Jackson 1-3 0-0 2, Asa Hardyway 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 9-10 55

FG%: Talladega .400, Fisk .358. 3-pt FG:Talladega 6-17 (Chavis 0-1, Simmons 0-2, Sands 6-13, Burditt 0-1), Fisk 8-27 (Cockrill III 0-4, Bell 3-4, McNelkan 5-10, Seay 0-1, Ashley 0-1, Benton-Hamilton 0-6, Hardyway 0-1). Rebounds: Talladega 38 (Sams 10), Fisk 33 (Ashley 12). Fouls Talladega 18, Fisk 17. Fouled out: Williams . Technical: none. Assists: Talladega 15 (Williams 4), Fisk 13 (Benton-Hamilton 6). Steals: Talladega 8 (Campbell 2, Simmons 2, Brewer 2), Fisk 9 (Benton-Hamilton 5). Blocked shots: Talladega 6 (Sams 5), Fisk 3 (Ashley 1, Mustafa-Reid 1, Jackson 1). Turnovers: Talladega 21, Fisk 20. Attendance: 671.