Savannah State failed in its first major test of the basketball season Tuesday night at Tiger Arena.
The Tigers failed to protect the ball against a half-court trap press, and they failed to make their free throws.
SSU’s shortcomings added up to a 58-55 loss to Middle Tennessee State in a showdown of programs that advanced to the NIT last season.
“We’re disappointed, but it’s still early in the season,” said senior forward Rashad Hassan, who led the Tigers with 16 points.
SSU (1-1) led by 12 early on, but the Blue Raiders, who won 27 games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT last season, fought back and held on for dear life.
Middle Tennessee (2-0) made its final six free throw shots and survived when Preston Blackman’s forced 3-point shot at the buzzer hit the front of the rim and bounced away.
“We beat a really, really well-coached basketball team,” MTSU coach Kermit Davis said. “They could win our league.”
The Blue Raiders probably could win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They returned 10 of their 12 players who beat the University of Tennessee in the second round of the NIT after SSU lost to the Volunteers in the first round.
MTSU managed only 42.1 percent shooting from the field and suffered 21 turnovers Tuesday, but rode the hot hand of shooting guard Marcos Knight. The native of Rentz (outside of Dublin), who played at West Laurens High School, finished with a game-high 21 points, 19 coming in the second half.
“He put us on his shoulders,” Davis said.
Savannah State couldn’t match the offensive firepower in a game that quickly became a defensive struggle. The Tigers also committed 21 turnovers, made just 11 of 23 from the free-throw line and only 2 of 16 from 3-point range.
“We may see only one or two teams perform at that level in the MEAC,” said SSU coach Horace Broadnax about MTSU’s defensive effort. “It’s good to see where we are.”
The Tigers started quickly and jumped to a 16-4 lead.
But Middle Tennessee, picked by Sun Belt Conference coaches to win the East Division, didn’t fold. The Raiders pressured the Tigers perimeter by double teaming the ball.
SSU had only three field goals during the first 10 minutes and 26 seconds of the second half, and the Tigers’ 29-23 halftime lead turned into a 44-37 deficit.
Knight scored 13 of Middle’s 21 points during the run.
Meanwhile, SSU’s big men 6-8 Arnold Louis and 6-8 Jyles Smith picked up their fourth fouls.
The Tigers rallied and tied the game on Blackman’s steal and coast-to-coast layup at 52 with 3 minutes and 17 seconds left.
A pair of free throws by J.T. Sulton and Knight pushed Middle back into a 56-52 lead. Hassan answered with a layup and a free throw to complete a three-point play to make it 56-55 with 40.8 seconds left.
Bruce Massey sank two free throws with 9.6 seconds left.
“We didn’t do a good job against their pressure,” Broadnax said. “We talked about playing better in the first four minutes of the (second) half. But those are things we can address.”
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (2-0)
Hunter 3-4 0-0 6, Gallman 0-1 2-2 2, S.Jones 2-11 0-4 4, Massey 2-4 3-6 7, Hammonds 0-2 0-0 0, T.Knight 1-3 1-2 3, M.Knight 5-8 10-10 21, Cintron 1-2 0-0 2, Walker 2-2 2-2 6, J.Jones 0-0 2-6, Sulton 0-1 5-6 5. Totals 16-38 25-38 58.
SAVANNAH STATE (1-1)
Blackman 4-15 1-2 9, C.Smith 3-9 1-3 7, Wilson 2-4 5-7 9, Hassan 7-7 2-9 16, J.Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Burger 0-2 0-0 0, White 0-1 0-0 0, Hendley 1-3 0-0 2, Williams 4-10 0-0 10, Spears 0-0 0-0 0, Louis 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 21-53 11-23 55.
Halftime—SSU, 29-23. 3-point goals—MTSU 1-2 (M.Knight 1-1, Cintron 0-1), SSU 2-16 (Blackman 0-7, Wilson 0-2, Burger 0-1, Hendley 0-1, Williams 2-5). Rebounds—MTSU 35 (Massey, M.Knight 7), SSU 34 (Hassan, J.Smith 6). Assists—MTSU 11 (Hammonds 4), SSU 9 (Blackman 4). Fouled out—J.Smith.
Total fouls—MTSU 24, SSU 26. Technicals—none. A—890.