Box Score SAVANNAH, Ga.- After starting the season with road losses to Pittsburgh and Robert Morris, the Savannah State basketball team was happy  to play their home opener against Tennessee Temple.
 
Joshua Montgomery scored 18 points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds as Savannah State won their first game of the season with a 73-63 victory over the visitors from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 
The Crusaders, who participate in the National Christian College Athletic Association, led by as many as five points early in the first period.
 
TTU led 17-13 with 9:11 on the clock before the Tigers (1-2) went on a 9-2 spurt to go ahead 22-19 with 5:29 left in the half.
 
The Crusaders would stay within striking distance but Savannah State would eventually build a six point advantage and take a 35-29 lead into intermission.
 
The Tigers opened the second period with a 3-pointer from Devan Williams and a layup by Montgomery to go ahead 40-29.
 
SSU stretched its lead to 12 after a layup by Terel Hall at the 17:22 mark but Tennessee Temple clawed their way back into the contest as they cut their deficit to 51-46 with 11:54 remaining.
 
The Tigers ran its lead back to 11 points but a 3-pointer by Jalen Smith followed by a layup from Hampton Mack pulled the visitors within 65-59 with 3:11 left.
 
Down the stretch, Savannah State got a 3-pointer from Hall and clutch free throw shooting from Jyles Smith, Hall and Williams.
 
Williams finished the game with 17 points while Hall chipped in 10.
 
For the third consecutive game, SSU was out-rebounded. This time, it was the Crusaders who held a 37-33 rebounding edge.
 
For the game, SSU shot 42.6 percent from the floor while Tennessee Temple (3-2) shot 41.9 percent.
 
Rashaud Bell scored a game-high 22 points for the Crusaders and pulled down nine rebounds.
 
The crowd of 1.330 saw the a brother vs. brother matchup as SSU's Jyles Smith playing against his older brother Jarrett Smith of Tennessee Temple. Both brothers finished the contest with six points.