Strong second half sends Tuckerman past BIC in NEA Tourney

Top seeded Tuckerman broke open a tight game with a strong second half as the Bulldogs cruised to a 61-42 victory over Buffalo Island Central in the quarterfinals of the 72nd NEA Tournament Thursday night at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro.

Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first quarter, as the Mustangs committed seven miscues while Tuckerman handed the ball over six times. A pair of three pointers by Kyle Thrasher gave the Mustangs a 6-3 lead, but the Bulldogs battled back, tying the score 8-8 after the first break on Kemani Roberson’s second triple of the period.

Roberson and Ben Keton connected on back to back treys to begin the second period, as the Bulldogs pulled ahead 14-10. Keton’s triple at the 4:36 mark gave Tuckerman its biggest lead of the half, 19-12. BIC answered on a short Blaine Wildy jumper to slice the lead to five. Keton put Tuckerman ahead 21-14 at the 2:32 mark, but Whit Cagle knocked down a turnaround jumper in the paint to cut the Bulldog lead to 21-16 at intermission.

The third period belonged to Tuckerman, as the Bulldogs outscored BIC 19-9 to go ahead 40-25 after three quarters. Keton ignited the Tuckerman rally, canning back to back three pointers. Kaleb Dublin sank a three to begin the final frame, cutting the Bulldog lead to 40-28, but that was as close as the Mustangs would get.

Keton pumped in a game high 21 points to pace the Bulldogs. Kemani Roberson poured in 17 while Bomani Roberson also hit double digits, scoring 14. Tuckerman went 0-3 from the foul stripe but banged home 10 three pointers.

Thrasher paced the Mustangs with 13 points while Cagle scored 10. Wildy tallied six, Tate Schooley posted five, while Dublin and John Garrett Edwards added three points apiece. Foul trouble and a strong defensive effort by Tuckerman held Devin Pemberton to just two points on the night.