TOUGALOO, Miss. (Interstat) — Willie Anderson scored 24 points and Antonio Patterson added 21 as the Tougaloo Bulldogs used a dominant first-half performance to defeat the Talladega Tornadoes 83-67 in a men’s NAIA basketball game Monday night.

The Bulldogs, improving to 15-6, avenged a loss from earlier in the season by overwhelming Talladega from the opening tip. The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Tougaloo established a commanding lead that Talladega never seriously threatened. The Bulldogs raced to a 46-point first quarter, showcasing an efficient and high-powered offense that the Tornadoes’ defense could not contain.

Anderson, Tougaloo’s top star, was instrumental in building that early cushion. He was a constant force, attacking the basket and drawing fouls, finishing the night 8 for 8 from the free-throw line. His performance marked a return to form after being held to just four points in Tougaloo’s previous game. Patterson provided a strong inside complement, contributing six rebounds and two blocks to his 21 points.

For Talladega, which fell to 11-10, Kenneth Jenkins Jr. led the way with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc with five 3-pointers. Isaiah Mayes added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Jalen Bing-Wallace pulled down 10 rebounds.

Despite the Tornadoes’ efforts, they spent the entire game attempting to climb out of the early hole. The Bulldogs’ lead never dipped below double digits after the first few minutes of play, as they answered every Talladega basket with one of their own. Tyler Hudson scored 13 points for Tougaloo, and Jagger Young chipped in eight points and three assists.

The game was a rematch of a contest played just one week prior, on Feb. 2, which Tougaloo won 84-70 on Talladega’s home floor. This victory completed a regular-season sweep for the Bulldogs.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tougaloo with an 81.4 percent probability to win, a forecast borne out by their wire-to-wire control. The Bulldogs shot efficiently from the floor and capitalized on Talladega turnovers to fuel their transition game and set the tone early.

Talladega will look to rebound on the road at Voorhees University on Saturday. Tougaloo’s next game is at home against Southeastern Baptist on Thursday.