ATLANTA, Ga.- Savannah State's 53-48 win over Central State on Friday evening earned the Tigers a trip to play in the championship game of the 2025 SIAC Tournament.

It will mark SSU's first tournament championship appearance since the 2021-22 season. That same year, the Tigers won the conference tournament and received a automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Current SSU seniors Austin Lewis and Ayjay Plain were freshmen during that season.

The win over Central State gives Savannah State a 17-11 record, the most wins by the program since the 2012-13 campaign when they posted a 19-15 record.

The scored was tied at 26 at the half and the Marauders scored the first four points of the second half.

The teams continued to trade baskets and with eight minutes left and Central State holding a 42-39 lead, the Tigers scored the next nine points to take a 48-42 lead with 4:09 showing on the clock.

CSU used a pair of 3-pointers to get as close as three but free throws by Savannah State along with a layup by Michael Swift with 24 seconds left sealed the win for the Tigers.

On December 2, 2024, Central State defeated Savannah State 74-72 in Ohio.

The first half was a period of the teams trading baskets and nobody leading by more than three points.

CSU led 23-21 but Savannah State answered with a layup by Jeremiah Barze and a free throw by Javonte Landy to take a 24-23 lead with 1:34 showing on the clock.

A 3-pointer by Central State put the Marauders on top 26-24 but a layup by Landy with 41 seconds remaining sent the teams into intermission tied at 26.

Landy paced Savannah State with 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists while Qua King added 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Barze chipped in ten points and six rebounds.

Swift had eight points followed by Ayjay Plain (5) and Jerry Maxinaud (2).

The game, which pitted SSU, the fourth seed from the SIAC East and Central State, the third seed from the SIAC West, had nine ties and nine lead changes.

Savannah State, who has won seven games in a row, will face Tuskegee in the championship game on Saturday afternoon at Morehouse at 4:30 p.m.

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