SAVANNAH, Ga.- Preston Blackman and Rashad Hassan each scored 13 points as Savannah State broke a two-game losing streak with a 39-38 win over Western Illinois in Tiger Arena.

The Tigers, who led by as many as 16 in the first half, had to hold on after WIU put together a furious rally in the second period.

A 3-pointer by Blackman gave SSU (4-3) a 29-18 advantage with 12:46 left in the second half.

The Leathernecks responded with a 18-8 run to cut their deficit to 37-36 with 1:57 remaining.

A jumper by Blackman put the Tigers ahead 39-36 but Ceola Clarke's jumper made it a 39-37 contest with 50 seconds on the clock.

Don McAvoy attempted a game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left but it was blocked by SSU's Arnold Louis.

Savannah State, who led 22-13 at the half, shot 47.6 percent from the floor in the opening period but went cold after intermission while making 6 of 21 shots from the field.

WIU only made 6 of 26 shots in the first half but shot 50 percent from the field in the second period.

SSU jumped out to a 11-0 lead as the Leathernecks missed their first nine shots.

Adam Link's jumper with 12:39 made the score 11-2.

A layup by Michael Ochereobia cut SSU's lead to 13-4 but the Tigers responded with seven straight points from Hassan with a layup, jumper and a 3-pointer to give Savannah State a 20-4 cushion with 7:57 left in the first half.

Western Illinois held SSU to just two points the rest of the period as they ended the half with a 9-2 spurt.

Link led WIU (3-3) with 11 points.

Cedric Smith led SSU with nine rebounds. Blackman had five assists and Jyles Smith had four blocks.

The Tigers out rebounded Western Illinois 33 to 26.