WILBERFORCE, Ohio —
Savannah State only shot a dozen free throws in their game with
Central State on Thursday night. The Tigers did not attempt a free throw in the first half and out of the 12 they attempted in the second period, only six went in.
But it was the final three free throw attempts that lifted Savannah State to their fourth win in a row.
Down 52-50 with 1:12 remaining,
Michael Swift makes one of his two free throw attempts to pull the Tigers within one.
Zyere Edwards went to the free throw line with nine seconds remaining and the junior guard hit his first shot to tie the game while his second shot proved to be the game winner as SSU slipped past Central State 53-52 in Beacom/Lewis Gym.
The Marauders had a chance to win but missed a layup with one second left.
Javonte Landy paced the Tigers with 11 points, five steals and four assists while
Jordan Mikell added ten points. Edwards finished with nine points and three steals while going 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
Central State dug a early hole for themselves, as the Tigers took a 14-3 lead with 14:44 left in the first half.
The Marauders were able to cut their deficit to four before SSU answered with a 3-pointer and a layup by Edwards for a 25-16 lead.
With 2:46 left in the first half, SSU led by ten but Central State scored the final four points as the teams went into the locker room with the Tigers leading 30-24.
Savannah State opened the second half with a jumper by
Michael Swift, a free throw by Mikell and a layup by Swift to expand their margin to 35-24.
Central State fought back and used a 17-4 rally to take a 41-39 lead with 10:04 remaining.
A pair of free throws by Edwards tied the game at 41 and a 3-pointer by Landy put SSU ahead 44-41 with 8:14 left.
Another 3-pointer by Landy broke a 44-44 tie and gave Savannah State a 47-44 lead with 5:16 showing on the clock but CSU scored the next six points to go in front 50-47.
Landy buried another 3-pointer to tie the game but Central State went back in front, 52-50, on two free throws with 2:43 showing on the clock.
In a game that had five ties and four lead changes, SSU had more rebounds (30 to 27). The Tigers also had more points off turnovers, points in the paint and fast break points.
James Leach added six points and team-leading six rebounds.
Ladarrius Chigano had six points, Swift scored five points while dishing out seven assists and
Chancellor Wilson chipped in four points and five rebounds.
Brandon Johnson had two points.
The win gives SSU the season sweep over Central State. The Tigers beat CSU 71-65 in Tiger Arena on December 4, 2025.
Savannah State (10-8, 10-6 SIAC) will travel to Kentucky State on January 31.
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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 (HBCUs) 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.