SAVANNAH, Ga.- Lenjo Kilo 's 14 points and 15 rebounds were not enough as Savannah State fell to North Carolina Central in a game played at Tiger Arena, before a crowd of 1,230.
 
The temperatures were frigid outside and the Tigers shooting was pretty much the same as SSU ended the contest shooting 28.8 percent from the field. Savannah State made just 16.7 percent of their 3-point shots.
 
The Tigers were down 29-23 at intermission but scored the first six points of the second period with layups from Troyce Manassa, Chris Martin and Kilo to knot the game at 29.
 
NCCU's Jeremy Ingram answered with a 3-pointer which started a 24-6 run to give the Eagles a 53-35 edge with 7:23 remaining.
 
Isaiah Felder knocked down a 3-pointer for Savannah State to slice their deficit to 15 but a 10-2 spurt by Central gave the visitors a commanding 63-40 advantage with 4:20 on the clock.
 
SSU (5-9, 1-2) never got any closer than 19 the rest of the way.
 
Kilo was the only Tiger in double figures. Manassa and Khalen Pinkett contributed nine points apiece.
 
NCCU, who committed 22 turnovers, won the rebounding battle 42 to 31.
 
In the first half, Savannah State trailed 6-4 but back to back layups by Pinkett put the Tigers ahead 8-6 with 13:18 on the clock.
 
The Eagles responded by holding SSU scoreless for nearly six minutes as they went on a 15-0 run to go up 21-8 with 8:19 remaining.
 
Savannah State did not score again until Pinkett made a pair of free throws at the 7:25 mark.
 
The Tigers trailed by nine with 1:48 left in the period but whittled their deficit down to 27-23 after a 3-pointer by Manassa and two free throws from Brian Pearson with 43 seconds remaining.
 
Enoch Hood's dunk gave NCCU a 29-23 lead with 27 seconds left and the Eagles went into the half with that same score.
 
Patrick Cole had 30 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles (7-11, 2-2).
 
NCCU shot 44.9 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from beyond the arch and made 81 percent of their free throws.
 
Tip ins:
Savannah State- After scoring 19 points each in their last game, Manassa and Martin were held to a combined 13 points against NCCU.
Kilo matched his season high of 14 points and had a season high of 15 rebounds.
North Carolina Central- The Eagles won their first road game of the season with the win over SSU.
Cole followed up a 24 point performance against South Carolina State with a career high 30 points against SSU.
 
Up next:
SSU will host Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 16 in the third game of a four game home stand.
NCCU will host Norfolk State on Jan. 16.