Box Score Inside the Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center on Thursday night, the Talladega College Tornadoes delivered one of their most explosive performances of the season, storming past the Oakwood Ambassadors 86–79 in a high-energy conference matchup that had fans roaring from tip-off to the final buzzer.
Oakwood came out firing, dropping 48 first-half points and threatening to silence the home crowd. But the Tornadoes refused to back down. After trailing at halftime, Talladega erupted with a dominating 47-point second half—powered by grit, rebounding dominance, and clutch shot-making, to secure the thrilling victory.
Senior forward Shaun Walker played like a man on a mission. He bulldozed his way to a monster double-double, piling up 24 points and 14 rebounds while shooting an efficient 11-for-16 from the field. Walker's energy shifted the momentum multiple times, and his dunks and put-backs electrified the arena and fueled Talladega's second-half surge. Every time the Tornadoes needed a play, Walker answered.
Talladega's shooters also turned up the intensity from deep, knocking down nine three-pointers. Arthur Williams showcased his versatility with 19 points, three made threes, six rebounds, and four steals, imposing his presence on both ends of the floor. Eric Howard Jr. sparked the Tornadoes early with a pair of first-half threes and finished with 10 points, while Tre Simmons delivered timely long-range shots, adding three key triples that helped Talladega stay within striking distance during pivotal moments. The Tornadoes shot better than 52 percent from the field, displaying exceptional balance and efficiency throughout the night.
The Tornadoes' success began on the glass. They dominated the boards with a 43–23 rebounding advantage, including 18 offensive rebounds that turned into 21 second-chance points. Their pressure defense produced 12 steals and forced Oakwood into 24 turnovers, with Williams, Walker, and Treyon Delmore stepping up defensively in clutch moments. Strong contributions from the bench added another 20 points, giving Talladega a steady boost throughout the game.
Oakwood battled hard behind Jordan Bell's 23 points and Tahj Evans' 20-point performance. The Ambassadors hit eight threes and delivered an impressive 48-point first half, but they ultimately couldn't withstand Talladega's relentless rebounding and second-half defensive pressure.
With this victory, Talladega showed poise, heart, and championship-level execution—weathering early adversity before roaring back to defend home court. Their second-half performance made one thing clear: Talladega Basketball is heating up, and when this team locks in, they are incredibly tough to stop.