The Savannah State Tigers are the 2025 men’s SIAC basketball champions, overcoming a late second-half deficit to defeat Tuskegee 67-66.
Savannah State won its second SIAC championship since returning to the conference in 2019 (first since 2022).
Javonte Lundy had the hot hand for the Tigers, scoring 23 points on 64% shooting from the field, including hitting four of six attempts from three-point range.
Qua King recorded 19 points and eight rebounds while Ayjay Plain had 16 points and four rebounds.
Tuskegee forward Kusamae Draper led all scorers with 26 points on 50% shooting and eight rebounds. Kevin Sesberry posted 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Savannah State started the game aggressively on both ends of the floor, leading to a 16-6 lead through the first seven minutes of the contest.
Faced with an early double-digit deficit, Tuskegee began to settle into the game, outscoring SSU 26-12 for the rest of the half to take the lead into the second stanza.
The Golden Tigers continued to build momentum in the second half, holding the lead for the majority of the half, peaking with a 60-52 advantage with 4:52 remaining.
A thriller in Atlanta! Savannah State wins the 2025 Men’s @TheSIAC Championship. 67-66 winners over Tuskegee. #SIAC pic.twitter.com/u9PpL54jO6
— HBCU Alum (@hbcualum) March 8, 2025
From there, Lundy put Savannah State on his back, scoring the team’s next 11 points as part of an 11-3 run to tie the game with 1:17 left in the contest.
After forcing a steal on Tuskegee’s ensuing offensive possession, Savannah State called a timeout to draw up a play to go ahead with the game still tied.
With the shot clock winding down, Savannah State swung the ball around to Plain who hit a desperation three-pointer, taking a 66-63 lead with 16 seconds remaining.
Tuskegee immediately answered following a timeout, bringing the ball up the floor to Sesberry, who hit a three to tie the game back up with six seconds left.
Advancing the ball to their end of the floor, the Tigers inbounded it to Lundy, who then drove the ball inside, drawing a foul with two seconds left.
He hit one of two free throws, and the team deflected Tuskegee’s inbounds pass to secure the win.
Savannah State will now await word on who it will face in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament.
The NCAA tournament selection show will air on NCAA.com at 11:00 p.m. ET.
