WILBERFORCE, Ohio — In an exciting, back-and-forth battle that stretched into double overtime,
Central State (3-4, 2-1 SIAC) emerged victorious over
Savannah State (3-3, 1-1 SIAC) with a hard-fought 74-72 win on Sunday, Dec. 2, at Beacom/Lewis Gymnasium. The game, sponsored by Crumbl Cookies, was filled with dramatic moments, but it was the Marauders' clutch shooting and tenacious defense that secured the win.
The game was a rollercoaster from the very beginning. Central State started strong in the first half, leading 26-21 after one quarter and holding a 32-28 advantage at the break. However, Savannah State came out with renewed energy in the second half, outscoring the Marauders 37-32 and tying the game at 64-64 at the end of regulation.
The first overtime period saw both teams struggle offensively, with each side scoring just 7 points. In the second overtime, Central State showed resilience, led by a strong performance from
Steven Key II, who contributed 18 points, including key free throws that helped secure the win.
Key contributors for Central State included
Javantae Randle, Crumbl Cookies Player of the Game, scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and
Brandon Scott, who finished with 11 points.
Raevon Thomas chipped in 9 points, while
Chris Grubbs added 3 points off the bench. Central State's bench played a vital role, contributing 41 points, including crucial baskets in the second overtime.
For Savannah State, Qua King led all scorers with 21 points and 4 assists, playing a remarkable 41 minutes. Jaydon Cousin added 14 points, and Jeremiah Barze chipped in with 13 points, but the Lady Tigers struggled with their shooting in the overtime periods. Despite scoring 7 points in each of the extra periods, they couldn't convert enough opportunities to take the lead.
The game featured 13 lead changes and 13 ties, underscoring the close nature of the contest. Central State made 21 of 27 free throws (77.8%) compared to Savannah State's 12 of 18 (66.7%), a key factor in the Marauders' ability to close out the win.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.