GAME CENTRAL
Game 1
No. 7 Savannah State University Lady Tigers (9-3, 5-2 SIAC)
Vs.
Fort Valley State University (3-7, 3-4 SIAC)
TIME: 2 p.m., Jan. 7, 2023
LOCATION: Savannah, Ga. | Tiger Arena
THEME: Savannah Day
GAME DAY INFORMATION
TICKETS ($10-$50)
PARKING: (Free)
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM
SSU ROSTER
SSU SCHEDULE
SSU STATISTICS
SSU QUICK FACTS
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: @SavStateTigers
HASHTAGS: #HailSSU | #SSU
Savannah, Ga. – Savannah State women's basketball heads into the third game of the new year with a 1-1 record after falling in a thrilling double overtime game to Lane College on Wednesday.
Savannah State breaks back into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) East Division schedule after two cross-divisional games.
The Lady Tigers began the 2022-2023 season ranked, but two losses against Anderson on Dec. 10 and Tuskegee on Dec. 15 pushed them out of the rankings. They made their way back into the D2SIDA South Region Poll last week in the No. 7 spot following their three-game win streak.
In the SIAC East Division standings, Savannah State leads with a 5-2 conference record.
LAST GAME
Inside Tiger Arena, the Lady Tigers are tough to beat. Wednesday's loss was the first one on home court since February 11, 2021 when Savannah State fell to Benedict. Wednesday's loss broke a 19-game consecutive home court win streak. This season, the Lady Tigers 3-1 on home court.
PLAYER OUTLOOK
Savannah State is led this season by several veterans. But some fresh faces might shift the stats as the Lady Tigers deal with several injuries. Point guards Nyla Allen, Mia Goolsby are currently out. Myasia Jones will not return this season after suffering an injury in the last game.
Currently, junior guard #23 Amari Heard leads the stats, averaging 15.2 points a game. Look to senior forward #22 Bria Gibbs and redshirt freshman #5 Jashiyah Jones to step up for the Lady Tigers.
LAST GAME vs. FORT VALLEY STATE
Since returning to the SIAC and Division II in 2019, Savannah State is 7-0 against Fort Valley State—one of their primary SIAC East Division opponents. The teams last met during the 2022 SIAC Tournament on March 2. Savannah State beat Fort Valley 91-64 en-route to the SIAC Title game.
OPPONENT SCOUTING REPORT
Fort Valley State comes to Tiger Arena off a huge 54-44 win over Miles College on Wednesday. It was the Wildcats third win of the season and broke a three-game losing streak.
Senior guard #11 D.J. Jones leads the Wildcats with 15.5 points a game. Senior forward #22 Torri Myers tops the stats with 9.2 points a game and leads the defensive effort, averaging 7.5 boards a game.
Game 2
Savannah State University Tigers (7-4, 5-2 SIAC)
Vs.
Fort Valley State Wildcats (7-7, 5-2 SIAC)
TIME: 4 p.m., Jan. 7, 2023
LOCATION: Savannah, Ga. | Tiger Arena
THEME: Savannah Day
GAME DAY INFORMATION
TICKETS ($10-$50)
PARKING: (Free)
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM
SSU ROSTER
SSU SCHEDULE
SSU QUICK FACTS
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL: @SavStateTigers
HASHTAGS: #HailSSU | #SSU
Savannah, Ga. – The Savannah State men's basketball team opened the new year with two big wins in Tiger Arena, beating LeMoyne-Owen and Lane College this week.
Savannah State has had a surprising season thus far. The reigning SIAC Champions have been hot and cold, but mostly moved through their conference schedule with big wins. Today, they battle for first place in the SIAC East Division against longtime regional rival Fort Valley State.
The Tigers are in the midst of a four-game homestand. They will host a total of seven SIAC games in January, before hosting the SIAC Tournament in late February.
LAST GAME
In a cross-divisional SIAC matchup with Lane College on Wednesday, Savannah State handled the Dragons well, despite a late surge from the visitors. The Tigers walked away with a 65-55 win and a chance at first place in their division.
PLAYER OUTLOOK
#30 Eleik Bowles has topped most of the stats this season for Savannah State—putting away a career-high 40 points in a win against Flagler. Bowles is averaging 16.8 points a game and leads the team in field goals made (72), three-point field goals made (15), rebounds (46), steals (18), and minutes (31.3/game).
Guard #2 Ayjay Plain is having a strong season as well, putting up 9.5 points a game. He leads the team from the charity strip, with a .560 free-throw percentage and 28 made shots. #11 Za'Khari Cobb is averaging 8.7 points while freshman #10 Zion Davis is putting away 5.7 points a game.
LAST GAME VS. FORT VALLEY STATE
Savannah State last faced the Wildcats on February 24, 2022 in Tiger Arena. The Tigers squeezed out a 62-57 win. Eleik Bowles led that win with 10 points. Since rejoining the SIAC and NCAA Division II, the Tigers are 5-0 against Fort Valley State.
OPPONENT SCOUTING REPORT
The Wildcats are having a strong season. They lead the SIAC East Division with a 5-2 conference record. But they enter today's contest on a two-game losing streak, having dropped games to Miles College and University of Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Valley is led by a pair of sophomores this season. Forward #2 K.J. Doucet is averaging 15.9 points a game while guard #1 Myson Lowe is putting up 12.1 points an outing.
