Savannah State knocks off NC Central 64-50

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Preston Blackmon scored 16 points, Cedric Smith had nine of his 14 points in the second half and Savannah State beat North Carolina Central 64-50 on Saturday.

Jovonni Shuler added 13 points for the Tigers (12-18), who started 2-17 before finishing the season 10-1 with six consecutive victories.

Landon Clement scored 14 points and Marvin Fitzgerald added 10 for the Eagles (15-15), who faded in the second half.

Billed as the “bonus game” for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, N.C. Central was outscored 34-23 after halftime when it committed nine of its 20 turnovers.

N.C. Central, which is not yet eligible for the MEAC tournament as it continues its transition to NCAA Division I, missed 9 of 12 3-point attempts.

Savannah State, which will move to the MEAC in the fall, shot 48 percent from the field in the second half.