SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State held Tuskegee scoreless the final three minutes of the game and held on for a 62-55 win over the Golden Tigers, in a game played at Tiger Arena on December 16, 2023.
 
In a game that featured seven ties and seven lead changes, Savannah State was down by five with 6:54 left in the game when Qua King hit a layup and Ayjay Plain drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to give SSU a 54-51 lead at the 5:24 mark.
 
Tuskegee sliced SSU's lead to 56-55 with 3:16 remaining but Savannah State closed the game with six unanswered points to earn the win.
 
King scored four of the Tigers final six points via two free throws and a jumper while Javonte Landy added two more free throws.
 
During the final three minutes of action, Tuskegee committed three turnovers, missed a pair of 3-point attempts and committed four fouls.
 
The game had ties of 5, 7, 10 and 12 in the first period. 
 
Savannah State led 12-10 but Tuskegee strung together a 9-0 run to take a 19-12 advantage with 5:42 left.
 
A 3-pointer by Landy got SSU within four but Tuskegee used a 7-1 spurt to build a 26-16 edge with 3:20 remaining.
 
The Tigers finished the first period strong, getting a pair of three throws from Landy and King as well as a jumper from Aumauri Tillman.
 
Tuskegee led 26-22 at the half.
 
SSU finished the first half with a 6-0 run and started the second period with a 6-0 spurt with King hitting two free throws and a layup and Michael Swift adding a layup of his own to give the Tigers a 28-26 lead with 17:42 left.
 
Tuskegee was able to answer Savannah State and forged ahead with a 40-32 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining.
 
SSU cut its deficit to 45-44 with 8:55 left following two free throws by King but the Golden Tigers would answer with a pair of field goals to extend their lead to five.
 
Two more King free throws would draw the Tigers within three points but Tuskegee would respond by using their height to make an inside basket for a 51-46 lead.
 
King scored 18 of his game-high 20 points for Savannah State in the second half. He also made all 14 of his free throw attempts while grabbing seven rebounds. Plain added 13 points and six steals in the victory.
 
Seeing his first action of the season, Landy was a spark off the bench with eight points, four rebounds and three steals. Jordan Mikel had 6 points, Chancellor Wilson had five points and Zion Davis added three. Austin Lewis, Swift and Tillman all scored two points and Marius Ellis chipped in one point.
 
SSU (4-3, 3-1 SIAC) scored 30 points off of 27 Tuskegee turnovers and also had the edge on the Golden Tigers in second chance points (15 to 3).
 
Tuskegee shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half although they were outscored in the final 20 minutes, 40 to 29.
 
Kevin Sesberry had 16 points for the Golden Tigers (2-8, 1-4 SIAC).
 
Savannah State will play the final game of their three-game home stand against Spring Hill on Dec. 18 at 7:30 in Tiger Arena.