DURHAM, N.C.-
Rashad Hassan and Preston Blackmon each scored 17 points to lead Savannah State to a 67-57 victory over North Carolina Central in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
The crowd of 1,110 saw the Tigers win their seventh game in a row and improve to 15-10 overall and 8-2 in the MEAC.
SSU raced out to a 15-5 lead before the Eagles rallied back to cut their deficit to six with 8:26 remaining in the first period.
The Tigers led by 10 with six minutes left but NCCU clawed their way back in the game and tied the contest at 25 with a 12-2 run.
Savannah State finished the period with a free throw from
Deric Rudolph, a jumper by Blackmon and a layup from
Joshua Montgomery to take a 30-27 advantage into the locker room.
A dunk by Hassan to start the second half gave SSU a five point lead but a pair of free throws by Ebuka Anyaorah pulled the Eagles within 32-29.
The Tigers answered with a 11-2 run to go ahead 43-31 with 14:01 remaining.
Not to be outdone, the Eagles responded with a 9-2 spurt of their own to close their gap to 45-40 with 11:02 on the clock.
A 10-3 run gave Savannah State a 55-43 cushion at the 7:18 mark and expanded their lead to 13 with 4:08 left after a jumper by Hassan.
A 3-pointer by Emanuel Chapan made the score 64-57 but NCCU could get no closer.
SSU shot 50 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Eagles 31 to 22.
Hassan added nine rebounds for the Tigers and
Arnold Louis scored 10 points.
NCCU (12-12, 6-5) shot 45 percent from the floor and were led by Ray Willis' 14 points.
