COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- Savannah State shot 50.8 percent from the field but were unable to pull out a win in a 91-80 non-conference loss to Tennessee Tech.
 
The crowd of just over 800 in the Eblen Center saw SSU's Zaquavian Smith score a team-high 19 points off the bench. Smith  made a game-high five 3-pointers.
 
Zach Sellers added 17 points and a game-high seven assists while Jaquan Dotosn scored 16 points. Tyrell Harper had ten rebounds, six points and four assists.
 
SSU (3-10) defeated Tennessee Tech 97-83 in Savannah on November 13.
 
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 8-1 lead but back to back 3-pointers by Smith and Dotson trimmed the Tigers deficit to one with 16:38 on the clock.
 
Savannah State trailed 13-11 with just under 13 minutes remaining but TTU scored nine unanswered points to stretch their advantage to 11.
 
Tennessee Tech led by as many as 14 in the half before the Tigers strung together a 12-5 spurt to get within seven.
 
The Golden Eagles led 46-36 at the half.
 
Tennessee Tech led 65-53 with 11:04 left but SSU responded by going on a 7-0 run with a layup and a dunk by Dotson, a free throw by Sellers and a layup by Adam Saeed to close their gap to 65-60 with 8:14 remaining.
 
Tech (4-8) answered with a 7-2 run that gave them a 10 point lead at the 5:33 mark.
 
While the Golden Eagles'  lead never got past 12 points, Savannah State could only get as close as six the rest of the way.
 
Savannah State shot 33.33 percent from beyond the arc and 62.5 percent from he free throw line.
 
Tennessee Tech shot 43.5 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from beyond the arc and 70.6 percent from the free throw line.
 
Both teams had 40 rebounds.
 
Courtney Alexander had 12 rebounds and 11 points for Tech.
 
TIP INS:
 
* Zach Sellers extended his streak of scoring at least two points in a game to 44 games
 
* SSU shot 57.6 percent from the field in the second half
 
* Tyrell Harper has 22 rebounds in the past two games.
 
* Jaquan Dotson has scored in double figures 10 times this season and during the past five games
 
* The Tigers outscored Tennessee Tech 32-18 in the paint in the second half