COLUMBIA, S.C. – Allen University used a seven-point run in the second half to pull away and defeat the 20th-ranked Benedict College Tigers 72-62 in a SIAC men's basketball contest on Saturday in the John Hurst Adams Gymnasium.
 
Benedict rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to take a 43-41 lead after a 3-pointer by Brandon Beidleman. After Allen regained the lead, Gob Gabriel made a layup to trim the lead to 51-50. The Yellow Jackets then scored the next seven points for a 58-50 lead with 5:19 left to play. 
 
The Tigers got within two points, 64-62, after a 3-pointer by Tim Moore with 2:04 left to play, but they failed to score again in the final two minutes of the game.
 
The Tigers shot just 30 percent in the first half, making 9-of-30 shots, including going 1-of-12 on 3-pointers and trailed 37-24 at the break. Benedict shot 33.9 percent (21-of-62) for the game, and made 24.1 percent (7-of-29) of their 3-point attempts.
 
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead, and Benedict never got closer than seven points the rest of the first half.
 
Beidleman led the Tigers with 15 points, with 13 coming in the second half. Malachi McCoy added 12 points, and Marshaun West scored 10 points and grabbed a team-best 13 rebounds.
 
Benedict falls to 19-5 overall and 13-5 in the SIAC. Allen improves to 14-11 overall and 10-8 in the SIAC.
 
The Tigers are home Monday night to take on Fort Valley State at 7 p.m.