CORVALLIS, Ore.- Savannah State snapped a five-game losing streak with a 93-90 overtime win against Oregon State, in a game played at Gill Coliseum, before a crowd of 4,268.
SSU held a 50-44 halftime edge but were out scored in the second period, which ended tied at 84.
Oregon State (3-7) scored the first two points in the extra period but the Tigers responded by scoring the next seven points to go ahead 91-86 with 1:33 remaining.
During the 7-0 run, Robert Kelly made a layup and Troyce Manassa followed with a 3-pointer and a layup.
A layup by OSU’s JaQuori McLaughlin with 11 seconds left cut the Tigers lead to 91-90 but a pair of free throws by Zach Seller with six ticks remaining sealed the Tigers first road win of the season.
McLaughlin, who had 12 points, missed a game tying 3-pointer for the Beavers with two seconds left.
Kelly came off the bench for a game-high and career-high 24 points and seven rebounds to anchor the Tigers victory. Manassa, who made three 3-pointers, added 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Oregon State, which extended their losing streak to seven, opened the contest with a 7-0 spurt but the Tigers rallied to tied the game at 12 at the 13:20 mark, after a 3-pointer by Dexter McClanahan.
With the contest tied at 15, Savannah State put together a 10-2 run to go ahead by eight with just under ten minutes left.
Oregon State got within one on two occasions, first at the 8:41 mark and again with 5:22 remaining after two free throws by Stephen Thompson.
Leading 35-34, SSU stringed together a 9-1 run to go ahead 44-35 with 3:18 on the clock.
The Beavers could get no closer than six and trailed 50-44 at the break.
Kendal Manuel opened the second period with a 3-pointer to cut the Beavers deficit to three but SSU answered with two 3-pointers from Joshua Floyd and another from Kelly to run their advantage to 59-50 with just under 17 minutes left in regulation.
Down by nine, Oregon State responded with a 14-2 run to take a 64-61 lead with 13 and a half minutes left, after a dunk by Ronnie Stacy.
With OSU leading 72-68, Kelly made a layup and two free throws, Jahir Cabeza and McClanahan made a layup each and Floyd nailed a jumper to give Savannah State a 79-74 lead with 5:57 left.
SSU led 84-81 with just under two minutes remaining but a 3-pointer by McLaughlin tied the game at 84 with 1:28 left.
Both teams had chances to win in regulation but failed to do so.
SSU (3-8) had a turnover and Manassa missed a jumper with six seconds left. Thompson missed a free throw with 35 seconds left and a 3-pointger at the buzzer for Oregon State.
The game featured seven tied and 11 lead changes.
Both teams committed 12 turnovers and made 66.7 percent of their free throws.
Floyd made three 3-pointers for SSU and finished the contest with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists while McClanahan chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and four assists off the bench.
The Tigers shot 51.5 percent from the field in the first period and 48.5 percent for the game. Savannah State made 15 of 34 shots from beyond the arc.
Oregon State, from the Pac-12, was led by Drew Eubanks’ 23 points and 16 rebounds.
The Beavers shot 44.3 percent from the floor and made 28.6 percent of the 3-pointers.
Courtesy: SSU Athletics
