SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State outscored North Carolina Central in the second half but would fall short in a 71-67 setback to the Eagles in a game played at Tiger Arena.

SSU (4-11, 2-4 MEAC) trailed by eight with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter and  used a 9-1 run to close their  gap to 66-65 with 1:41 left after a layup by Alexxus Sowell.

A layup by Kieche White put Central ahead by three but SSU answered with a  pair of free throws by Myasia Jones to make the score 68-67 with 29 seconds left.

Central finished the game with a trio of free throws by White to get the win.

Jones was the lone Lady Tiger in double figures with 19 points. Sowell added nine points and seven rebounds.

The Eagles led 22-17 after one quarter of play. NCCU led by as many as 12 in the second quarter and took a 38-31 advantage into intermission.

Down by eight in the third quarter, Savannah State used layups from Robbi Allen and Ta'Quasia Lampkin and a pair of free throws by Jacquece Alston to pull within 45-43 with 3:08 showing.

Central held SSU to just one free throw the rest of the quarter as they took a 50-44 lead into the final quarter.

The Lady Tigers started the fourth quarter with a 10-5 spurt to get within 55-54 but a 7-0 run by the visitors from Durham, North Carolina put SSU back in a eight point deficit with 5:43 remaining.

Savannah State out-rebounded NCCU 42 to 39 while shooting 37.1 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from beyond the arc and 70.8 percent from the free throw line.

NCCU's Rodneysha Martin led all scorers with 21 points.

The Eagles (5-15, 2-5 MEAC) shot 43.1 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the foul line.