TUSKEGEE, Ala.- With the score tied at 56, Tuskegee used a 9-2 run to pull away and went on to defeat Savannah State 70-65 on Thursday night in a game played at the James Center.

SSU led 35-33 at the half but a basket by the Golden Tigers to open the second period tied the game. Savannah State answered with the next eight points to go ahead 43-35 as James Leach hit a jumper and Kelvin Cochran followed with two free throws, a layup and a jumper.

Tuskegee rallied to take a 44-43 lead but a jumper by Zyere Edwards and two free throws by Javonte Landy gave SSU a 47-44 advantage with just under ten minutes remaining.

The teams continued to trade baskets and the game was tied at 47 and again at 52, 55 and 56.

Tuskegee broke the tie at 56 with a 9-2 spurt to go ahead 65-58 with 42 seconds left.

Down 68-62, a 3-pointer by Edwards cut the Tigers deficit to 68-65 with five seconds left but Tuskegee hit a pair of free throws to clinch the victory.

In the first half, Tuskegee led 6-5 but back-to-back shots from behind the arch by Zion Davis and Landy put Savannah State ahead 11-6.

With the game knotted at 11, a dunk by Ladarrius Chigano and a jumper by Landy gave the Tigers a 15-11 lead.

Trailing 27-22 with 4:34 left in the half, Tuskegee tied the game at 31.

Two free throws by Leach broke the tie for a 33-31 lead but the Golden Tigers made a basket to tie the game at 33.

A pair of free throws by Michael Swift gave SSU a 35-33 lead with five seconds on the clock and the Tigers took that lead into the half.

In a game that had eight ties and a dozen lead changes, Savannah State had 12 second chance points, 28 bench points and 28 points in the paint.

Savannah State, who falls to 13-11 overall and 13-9 in the SIAC, was led by Edwards and Landy who had 11 and 10 points respectively. Landy also had six rebounds and four assists.

Leach and Chigano both had nine points and five rebounds, Swift netted seven points, Cochran and Chancellor Wilson scored six points each, Davis chipped in five and Brandon Johnson scored two points.

Savannah State will travel to Miles on Saturday afternoon.

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