SAVANNAH, Ga.- Chris Martin scored 18 points while Lenjo Kilo added 13 and Troyce Manassa chipped in 10 as Savannah State down Maryland Eastern Shore 68-61 before a crowd of 930 in Tiger Arena. SSU (6-9, 2-2 MEAC) led by nine at the half but expanded their lead to 44-30 with 11:44 remaining in the second period.
Down 56-44 with just under five minutes remaining, UMES started to make a run, using a 9-1 spurt to whittle their deficit down to four points with 3:20 on the clock.
Savannah State responded with five straight points as Khalen Pinkett made a free throw, Brian Pearson had a two-handed dunk and Martin hit a pair of free throws. The Hawks could never get any closer than six the rest of the way.
Pinkett and Pearson both came off the bench to contribute nine points for SSU. Pearson had a team-high eight rebounds while Kilo grabbed six.
The Tigers shot 47.6 percent from the field in the second half and 38 percent for the game.
Three point shots weren't falling for Savannah State as they made two of 13 attempts.
In the first half, UMES scored the first six points of the contest but the Tigers answered with a 7-0 run to go ahead by one point. Kilo scored five of the seven points during the spurt.
Ahead 18-17 with 6:16 on the clock, SSU got a little separation as they went on a 13-5 run to expand their lead to 31-22 with 2:28 left before halftime.
Savannah State led 33-24 at the break.
Dominique Elliott had a double double for UMES (4-15, 1-3 MEAC) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Bakari Copeland added 14 points and 9 rebounds while Thomas Rivera contributed 11 points and 4 assists.
The Hawks, who shot 43.5 percent from the field, out-rebounded Savannah State 39 to 33.
Tip ins:
Savannah State avenged a 30 point loss from last season from the Hawks...Martin's 18 points matched a season high. He also scored 18 points in a win over Georgia Southern...Kilo made a career-high 7 free throws.
Maryland Eastern Shore has lost 5 of its last 6 games....It was a homecoming for Elliott who played locally at Groves High School. Elliott had about 75 family and friends at the game....The game marked the return of assistant coach Cliff Reed who spent the 2013-14 season as a SSU assistant coach.
Up next:
SSU will host Delaware State on Jan. 18 in the last game of the Tigers four game home stand.
UMES will play at South Carolina State on Jan. 18.
