ATLANTA, Ga.-  The Savannah State University men's basketball team, who are the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament champions, are predicted to finish second in SIAC East Division according to a release from the conference office on the 2025-26 predicted order of finish on Wednesday.

The Tigers finished last season 18-12 overall and 12-9 in the SIAC.

Savannah State ended the regular season with a four game winning streak and earned a fourth seed going into the conference tournament.

The Orange & Blue won four games in the tournament to extend their winning streak to eight.

SSU opened the tournament with a 79-74 win over fifth-seeded Spring Hill which was followed by a 63-61 upset of top-seeded Miles and a 53-48 victory over third-seeded Central State to reach the finals where they nipped second-seeded Tuskegee 67-66 to win their second SIAC tournament in four years and earn a berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Savannah State lost to Nova Southeastern in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament, 76-64. Nova won the Division II title last season.

Clark Atlanta is predicted to win the SIAC East, ahead to SSU. Behind Savannah State is Morehouse, Albany State, Edward Waters, Benedict, Fort Valley State and Allen.

Miles is predicted to capture the SIAC West. Tuskegee and Central State are picked to finish second and third followed by Kentucky State, Lane, Spring Hill and LeMoyne-Owen.

Clevan Thompson will begin his first full year as the Tigers head men's basketball coach. On January 6, 2025, Thompson took over the team as interim head coach after the mid-season retirement of head coach Horace Broadnax when they were 5-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play and guided them to 13 wins. On June 6, 2025, Thompson had the interim tag removed and was named 12^th head coach in the history of the program.

Savannah State will open the 2025-26 season playing their first five games on the road starting with St. Leo on November 14.
 

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (BY DIVISION)

EAST

1. Clark Atlanta

2. Savannah State

3. Morehouse

4. Albany State

5. Edward Waters

6. Benedict

7. Fort Valley State

8. Allen

WEST

1. Miles

2. Tuskegee

3. Central State

4. Kentucky State

5. Lane

6. Spring Hill

7. LeMoyne-Owen

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com