TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College won both ends of a basketball doubleheader Saturday against Beacon College of Leesburg, Florida

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Shakiria Chaney drives in during the third quarter for two of her 21 points for ABAC.

. The men edged the Blazers, 88-86, with the Fillies pulling away in the second half to win, 75-56.

The Fillies battled with one of the most unique opponents they will see this year — Beacon only suited up five players. Despite not being able to substitute, the Lady Blazers hung close to ABAC for more than half the game. An India Gultry jumper at 5:00 in the third quarter made the score 36-33.

An 8-0 run by ABAC eliminated any chances of an upset and by the end of the third, the Fillies were ahead 52-41.

Faith Hillmon played a critical role in ABAC getting back in gear. The freshman from Tift County High started the run with four consecutive free throws. Malaja Dyous added a shot and Hillmon cleaned up the glass for eight straight points in 90 seconds to make it 44-33.

Scoring honors again went to Shakiria Chaney. Chaney, another Tift County High product, finished at 21 points. She scored ABAC’s first nine in the third quarter and had six in both the first and fourth frames.

Reese Riddle contributed 14 points, 12 in the second half. Hillmon finished at six points to go along with a team-best 10 rebounds.

Beacon’s men had a few more available bodies, which the Blazers combined with tremendous accuracy versus the Stallions.

ABAC led 40-35 at intermission after having built a seven point lead (33-26) on Antwann Brown free throws with 3:05 remaining in the half.

TJ Smith, who had a big first half dunk, led five Stallions in double figures with 21 points. Nate Mobley and Xavier Boyd each scored 14, with Tommie Hall at 13 and Brown at 11.

ABAC was an excellent 32 of 39 at the free throw line. Smith free throws meant they briefly held a 13-point lead midway through the second half before Beacon came roaring back.

The Blazers regained the lead with 1:52 remaining on a Jared Carter three-pointer. ABAC missed free throws, but got the ball back on a turnover. Boyd put them ahead again with under a miute to play.

ABAC went 6-of-6 at the stripe, coupled with a Boyd basket for a seven-point lead with seven seconds remaining. Beacon scored at the buzzer for the final score.

The Fillies and Stallions play at home Thursday and Saturday, both doubleheaders. Middle Georgia State comes in for the first date at 5:30 p.m. with Point University here Saturday at noon.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
ABAC’s T.J. Smith skies for a first half slam dunk against Beacon.