FORT VALLEY, Ga. – Following a couple of close losses, the Savannah State men's basketball team finally put an end to a six-game losing streak with an 82-77 victory over Fort Valley State on Saturday.
 
The Tigers pick up their second win of the season and their second Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) win during their first season of competition within the conference.
 
In one of their best shooting efforts of the season, the Tigers had four players in double figures and managed a 43.6% clip from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc and 62.2% from the free-throw line.
 
They were led in the effort by freshman guard Marcus Scott who put up a season-high 25 points to lead the entire field. SSU's top scorer Adrian Bonds wasn't that far behind, putting up 22 points.
 
Zion Williams, another newcomer, added 19 of his own, hitting 10 of 12 free-throw attempts and 3 of 7 3-point attempts. Trey DeLoach, a Richmond Hill, native, had a strong game as well, putting up 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
 
Trailing early on in the first half, Scott tilted the balance with a good 3-pointer to tie it up and Bonds followed him with one of his own to lift SSU into the lead. By the half, though, it was still a close game with the Tigers trailing 39-42.
 
The second half played back and forth for most of the minutes. Teams tied the game for the 13th time with 4:22 to play. DeLoach opened a little run for SSU with a dunk at the 3:31 mark and Bonds followed that with two good free-throws seconds later.
 
The small run for a slight lead proved to be the deciding factor as both teams scored seven additional points in the final two minutes, meeting each other basket for basket.
 
The Tigers continue in SIAC action on Monday with a 5 p.m. game against Clark Atlanta in Atlanta. They return home on Jan. 25 for a 3 p.m. game against Benedict College in Tiger Arena.