Box Score SAVANNAH, Ga.- Norfolk State trailed by eight with 6:19 left but scored 14 straight points as they finished the contest with a 17-2 run to hand Savannah State a 56-49 setback in Tiger Arena.
 
The game, which was televised live on ESPNU, had eight ties and eight lead changes.
 
The crowd of 1,860 saw the last tie at the 3:40 mark after a pair of free throws by Spartan Pendarvis Williams to make the score 47-47.
 
Williams followed his free throws with a jumper and Malcom Hawkins buried a 3-pointer to give NSU a 52-47 advantage. Another free throw by Williams put the Spartans ahead 53-47 with 1:21 to go.
 
Terel Hall stopped SSU's bleeding with a layup with 56 seconds remaining to get the Tigers within four.
 
NSU ended the game with a trio of free throws to earn the win and improve to 12-9 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC.
 
In the first period, the Spartans defense crippled SSU's scoring.
 
Tiger guard Keierre Richards made a layup at the 17:22 mark to cut SSU's deficit to 6-5. Savannah State did not make another field goal until 5:59 was left in the half after a jumper by Jeremiah Hill.
 
The Spartans followed Hill's jumper with a layup by Anell Alexis to extend their lead to 21-10 with 3:33
 
The Tigers battled back from that 11 point deficit and closed the half with a 10-1 run and trailed 22-20 at the break.
 
The game was tied at 33 with 13:08 left but Savannah State received a 3-pointer from Richards followed by a layup and two free throws by Joshua Montgomery to go ahead 40-33 with 10:49 on the clock.
 
SSU built a 47-39 cushion with 6:19 remaining following a three-pointer by Richards.
 
Montgomery came off the bench to lead SSU (7-14, 5-2) with 13 points while Richards added 11. Khiry White added nine points before fouling out and Jyles Smith had eight points and six blocks.
 
The Tigers shot 26.1 percent from the floor in the opening half but finished the game shooting 33.3 percent.
 
Norfolk State, which out-rebounded the Tigers 40 to 29, was led by Hawkins' 16 points.