The Morehouse basketball team opened its season Friday with an exhibition matchup against the Georgia State Panthers at Forbes Arena. The Maroon Tigers showed flashes of fight but ultimately fell short, losing 73-62.
From the tip, Morehouse got into its offensive sets early, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. But the rim soon appeared to shrink as the Maroon Tigers struggled to convert, allowing Georgia State to capitalize with several fast-break opportunities and build a quick 16-6 lead.
Morehouse regrouped, turning defense into offense with a pair of forced turnovers that sparked its biggest run of the night, a 14-1 surge around the 3:43 mark of the first half led by sophomores Brandon Peters and Josiah Lawson.
The Panthers responded quickly, hitting three 3-pointers to close the half with a 39-29 lead. Georgia State’s size advantage was evident, as 30 of its 39 first-half points came in the paint. The Maroon Tigers struggled from the field, shooting just 26.5% (9-for-34) in the half.
The second half featured back-and-forth possessions, but a lack of energy from Morehouse made it difficult to close the gap. The Panthers extended their lead to 66-46 with 7:51 remaining. Despite late efforts, the Maroon Tigers were unable to rally.
Head coach Larry Dixon noted a couple of takeaways from this matchup against a D1 opponent. “Our guys played hard and got some good experience under our belt,” Dixon said.
Junior transfer Aidan Fletcher echoed that sentiment. “This game allowed us to test our skills and build as a team,” he said.
Looking ahead, Morehouse will host its second exhibition game against Talladega College at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Forbes Arena.
