TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Troyce Manassa scored a game-high 21 points but it would not be enough as Savannah State lost their Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference opener to Florida A&M 61-58.
The Lawson Center crowd of 1,398 saw the Tigers jump out to a 12-1 lead.
SSU's defense held the Rattlers without a field goal until the 13:49 mark when Justin Ravenal made a layup.
With ten minutes remaining in the first period, FAMU had trimmed their deficit to seven but the Tigers responded with a trio of 3-pointers to grab a 23-7 advantage with 8:37 left.
Isaiah Felder hit the first 3-pointer and followed with another one after Manassa nailed a long ball. FAMU woke up and finished the half with a 23-8 run and trailed Savannah State at intermission 31-30.
Manassa started the second period with a 3-pointer to extend SSU's lead to 34-30 but a jumper by Treavann Warren and a 3-pointer by Ravenal gave FAMU their first lead of the evening at 35-34.
SSU reeled off six unanswered points to go ahead 40-35 with 15:31 left.
Both teams went cold after that and the next points were scored at the 11:29 mark on Malcolm Bernard's layup to slice the Rattler's deficit to three.
A pair of free throws by Craig Bowman gave FAMU a 43-42 edge with 9:01 left but a free throw by SSU's Chris Martin tied the scored at 43 with 8:56 remaining.
The game had six ties in the final nine minutes.
A jumper by Manassa tied the game at 54 with 2:56 left and his free throws with 1:27 remaining tied the contest at 56.
Ravenel nailed a 3-pointer with 1:06 on the clock to put FAMU ahead 59-56.
SSU got within one after a jumper by
Teslim Idris but the Rattlers iced the game with a pair of free throws from Bernard.
Savannah State fell to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in the MEAC while the Rattlers improved to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Idris added 10 points for the Tigers.
SSU shot 42.3 percent from the field but only made 7 of 26 of their 3-point attempts.
Bowman had 15 points for the Rattlers, who out-rebounded SSU 42 to 31.
FAMU shot 38.3 percent from the field and only made 3 of 19 3-point shots.
Tip ins:
Savannah State remains winless on the road (0-7)
FAMU went 2-27 last year but have already won five games this year
Up next:
SSU will host North Carolina A&T on January 9
FAMU will travel to Norfolk State on Jan. 9
