SAVANNAH, Ga.- Playing the first game of a four game home stand, Savannah State got 23 points and 11 rebounds from Tyrell Harper in a 71-62 win over Coppin State.
 
The Tiger Arena crowd of 2,805 saw Harper score 16 points and grab eight rebounds in the first half. Harper, who also had four assists, finished the contest shooting eight for 15 from the floor while making four of nine 3-point attempts.
 
Both teams started the game by making 3-pointer but a 17-6 run by the Tigers put Savannah State ahead 20-9 after seven minutes had elapsed off the clock.
 
SSU (8-15, 5-4 MEAC) led by 11 with nine and a half minutes left but used a 14-2 run which was fueled by 3-pointers from Harper, Romani Hansen and Jaquan Dotson to increase their lead to 40-17 at the 2:42 mark.
 
Coppin State outscored the Tigers 8-2 the remainder of the half as Savannah State took a 42-25 edged into the locker room.
 
A 3-pointer by John Grant to open the second half gave SSU a 20 point lead but Coppin State was able to whittle their deficit down to 60-52 with 5:14 left.
 
Taqwain Drummond hit a pair of free throws with 1:01 remaining to get CSU within 67-60 but the guests from Baltimore, Maryland would get no closer.
 
Hansen added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Tigers.
 
SSU shot 35.5 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 57.9 percent from the free throw line.
 
Kent Auslander scored 20 points for the Eagles, making six of eight from beyond the arc.
 
Coppin State (5-20, 5-5 MEAC) shot 36.2 percent from the floor, 32.3 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free throw line.
 
TIP INS:
 
*  Zach Sellers extended his streak of scoring at least two points in a game to 54 games
 
* Neither team had a blocked shot in the game
 
* SSU was outscored 37-29 in the second half
 
* Tyrell Harper (149), Jaquan Dotson (147) and Romani Hansen (125) each have over 125 rebounds on the season.
 
* Coppin State is coached by former NBA player Juan Dixon