Box Score SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State shot 55.4 percent from the floor in a 79-54 exhibition victory over Fort Valley State in Tiger Arena.
 
The crowd of 2,500 saw the Wildcats, coached by former SSU coach Sammy Jackson, stay close with Savannah State early in the contest with Peyton Mullings' 3-pointer tying the game at 12.
 
FVSU trailed by six at the 9:05 mark but a pair of free throws by Aaron Bing pulled the visitors within 18-14.
 
The Tigers answered with a 11-0 run to build a 29-14 lead with 5:06 on the clock.
 
SSU used a smothering defense to hold Fort Valley State without a field goal from the 13:18 mark until Nigel Domineck's layup with 2:39 remaining.
 
Savannah State led 39-23 at intermission while holding FVSU to shot just 28.6 percent from the floor.
 
The Tigers scored 13 straight points as part of a 13-2 run to open the second period to build a 52-25 cushion with 15:16 left.
 
SSU never let the Wildcats get closer than 20 the rest of the way.
 
The Tigers out-rebounded FVSU 37 to 33 while the Wildcats made 29 turnovers.
 
Savannah State shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the second period while FVSU shot a respectable 47.8 percent.
 
Preston Blackman led the Tigers with 18 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. Jyles Smith added 14 points, 6 blocks and 4 rebounds while Rashad Hassan chipped in 11 points and 9 rebounds.
 
Mullings and Corey Hunter each had 8 points for Fort Valley State.