Tigers lose last game of season

February 28, 2008
SAVANNAH, Ga - Savannah State entered its final game of the 2007-08 season with a 9-3 record in Tiger Arena. However, the Tigers (13-18) were unable to make a statement on Senior Night and fell to Texas Pan-American 78-68 in the final home game of the season.

TPA was the only team to beat SSU at home that was not from the state of Florida. Savannah State's three previous losses at home all came from teams from the Sunshine State: Jacksonville, Southeastern and Stetson.

Texas Pan-American placed four players in double-figures in beating SSU. Dexter Shankle led the way scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half.

The Tigers led by one with 8:36 left in the game but a 16-4 run by Pan-Am gave the visitors and 59-48 advantage with just over four minutes remaining. SSU was able to cut their deficit to eight but could get no closer.

SSU held the Broncos without a field goal the final 1:50 but Pan Am converted 13 of 15 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Pan-Am shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the first half, but found their touch in the second period going 14-for-19 from the field and 7-for-10 from 3-point range. Despite managing only 8-for-24 shooting the first half, SSU trailed 24-21 at intermission. The Tigers shot 42.9 percent in the second period.
The Tigers started five seniors and got off to a 5-0 lead. SSU led for most of the first half before Pan-Am made a late push with a 18-6 spurt to grab a six point lead with 3:04 left in the period. SSU's Raye Bailey canned a 3-pointer with 2:01 left to send the Tigers into the locker-room down by three.

Savannah State trailed by as many as nine in the early part of the second half before mounting a drive. Down 41-32, Lazarius Coleman started a 7-0 run with a dunk followed by a jumper and free throw from Bailey and a pair of three throws from Curtis Brown.

After the Broncos' Nathan Hawkins made a layup, SSU's Bjorn Bohley hit a free throw followed by another dunk from Coleman and a layup from Chris Linton to give the Tigers a 44-43 lead with 8:36 on the clock.

Coleman led SSU with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Joe Flegler added 13 points.

Paul Stoll added 18 points and six assists for the Broncos (18-13) while Brian Burrell chipped in 15 points and Emmanuel Jones came off the bench to score 14 points.

It was the final game for SSU senior players Alvin Edwards, Cedric Kalombo, Joel Davila, Bohley, Coleman and Flegler.