Box Score SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State held Florida A&M without a field goal the final 4:35 in a 52-40 win over the Rattlers.
 
The Tiger Arena crowd of 2,420 saw SSU used a 9-0 run to break open a close game and take a 43-32 lead with 6:31 remaining.
 
Down by nine, a layup by Malcolm Bernard cut the Rattlers deficit to 43-36 with 4:35 on the clock.
 
That would be the last field goal on the night for FAMU as Savannah State closed the game with a 9-4 spurt to grab the win.
 
It was the last regular season game for both squads.
 
Lenjo Kilo led the Tigers (14-14, 9-7 MEAC) with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. Troyce Manassa added 10 rebounds, 8 points and 3 assists.
 
The first period was a low scoring affair with SSU going into the locker room with a slim 19-18 lead.
 
With the contest knotted at 3-3, FAMU scored the next five points for a 8-3 lead.
 
FAMU led 10-5 but the Tigers used a pair of free throws from Dexter McClanahan and a 3-pointer by Javaris Jenkins to tie the game at 10 with 10:20 on the clock.
 
With the game tied at 14, Kilo made two free throws and a layup to give the Tigers a 18-14 advantage with 1:52 remaining.
 
The Rattlers tied the game at 18 with 38 seconds left but Savannah State went ahead by one after a free throw from guard Khalen Pinkett with 31 seconds on the clock.
 
With two seconds remaining, Bernard attempted a go ahead layup for FAMU but it was blocked by Kilo.
 
Savannah State only shot 27.3 percent from the field in the first half but warmed up to shoot  48 percent after intermission. The Tigers were cold from beyond the arch, making just 2 of 20 shots.
 
SSU outrebounded FAMU 40 to 33.
 
FAMU (8-21, 4-12 MEAC) was led by Craig Bowman's 11 points while Bernard chipped in 10 points off the bench.
 
The Rattlers  finished the game shooting 24.5 percent from the floor and 10.5 percent from 3-point range.
 
The win gives Savannah State a fifth seed heading into the conference tournament where they will face 12^th seeded Delaware State on March 7 in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
SSU defeated Delaware State earlier this season 64-47 in Tiger Arena.
 
Tip ins:
Savannah State: It was the last game in Tiger Arena for seniors Lenjo Kilo, Chris Martin and Brian Pearson…..SSU finished the regular season with a 12-2 home record…..The Tigers have won 7 of their last 8 games.
Florida A&M: It was a homecoming for Savannah native Nicholas Severado…..The Rattlers struggled on the road this year with a 1-14 record…..FAMU won 8 games this year which was a improvement from last season where they went 2-27.
 
Up next:
SSU will play Delaware State in the first round of the MEAC Tournament on March 7.
FAMU is finished because of APR issues.