SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State opened the 2025 portion of their schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 54-41 setback from Tuskegee in an SIAC game played at Tiger Arena.

The contest had two ties and three lead changes but the difference was a pair of big runs by the visitors from Tuskegee, Alabama.

The opening half was very close, with the teams exchanging baskets and nobody leading by more than three points. Tuskegee led 17-15 but two free throws by Ayjay Plain tied the game with 6:26 showing on the clock.

The Golden Tigers responded by scoring the next 11 points to grab a 28-17 advantage with 3:25 left in the first period.

Down 30-19, SSU finished the period with a layup by Jerry Maxinaud and a 3-pointer by Javonte Lundy to go into intermission down 30-24. A free throw by Maxinaud drew Savannah State within five, early in the second period.

Trailing 35-29, a free throw by Lundy along with a pair of free throws from Michael Swift cut the Golden Tigers led to 35-32 at the 11:25 mark. But Tuskegee answered with a 17-3 spurt that gave them a 52-35 advantage with 2:44 left for their largest lead of the game. Consecutive 3-pointers by Austin Lewis trimmed Savannah State's deficit to 52-41 but they would not able to get any closer.

The loss drops SSU to 5-6 overall as they fall to 3-4 in the SIAC.

Savannah State received more point production from their bench (14 to 11) and more second chance points (13 to 11).

Team leaders for the Tigers were Lewis (8 points), Qua King (6 rebounds), Plain (3 assists) and Jeremiah Barze (3 steals).

Plain added seven points while King, Maxinaud and Landy scored five points apiece. Jordan  Mikel added four points, Jaydon Cousin scored three and Barze and Swift chipped in two points each.

Savannah State will seek their first win of 2025 at home on Wednesday, January 8th in the East Division opener against Morehouse inside Tiger Arena.

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