Box Score NORFOLK, Va.- After posting a 61-47 first round win over South Carolina State, the fifth seeded Savannah State men's basketball squad entered the quarterfinal game against fourth seeded Norfolk State with some revenge on their mind but it was not to be as the Spartans defeated SSU 57-47 to advance to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference semifinals.
 
Norfolk State defeated the Tigers 56-49 earlier this season in Tiger Arena. NSU topped Savannah State 55-45 in December 2012 and nipped the Tigers 60-58 in Dec. 2011.
 
This game was close as well until the final five minutes when Norfolk State pulled away.
 
Leading  33-32 with 12:35 left in the second half NSU scored 13 unanswered points to take over the game 46-32 with just over five minutes left.
 
Although SSU cut their deficit to 46-41 after a pair of free throws by Alante Feener with 2:54 remaining, they could not get any closer as the Spartans out-scored Savannah State 11-6 the rest of the way.
 
The loss ends the Tigers year at 13-19, their first losing season since the 2010-11 season.
 
Jyles Smith had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for Savannah State while Deven Williams tossed in 10 points. Joshua Montgomery added 8 points and 8 rebounds while Keierre Richards had 5 assists.
 
It was nip and tuck in the first half but a 3-pointer by Williams gave the Tigers a 10-6 edge with 15:26 left.
 
The Spartans replied with a 12-2 run to go ahead 18-12.
 
Trailing 22-16 with 3:49 remaining, SSU finished the half with a 7-2 mini-run, including a 3-pointer by Williams with five seconds left to pull within 24-23 at intermission.
 
Norfolk opened the second half with seven straight points to build a 31-23 cushion but a dunk by Smith and a 3-pointer by Montgomery keyed a 9-2 surge that put SSU within 33-32 with 12:35 left.
 
Pendarvis Williams had 20 points for the Spartans (18-13).
 
The Tigers shot 38.8 percent from the floor while NSU shot 44.7 percent and only made eight turnovers. The Spartans edged SSU on the boards, 32 to 30.
 
It was the last game in a SSU uniform for eight SSU seniors.