COLUMBIA, S.C. – Despite the frigid temperatures outside, the Benedict College Tigers shot a sizzling 58.8 percent from the floor to defeat the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians 78-64 on Saturday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

The Tigers, playing their first home game since Dec. 3, made 30-of-51 shots in the game for a season-high 58.8 percent for the game. The Tigers missed only eight shots (15-of-23, 65.22 percent) in the second half.

Quayshun Hawkins and Brandon Morris scored 23 points each for the Tigers, who improved to 7-6 overall and 4-1 in the SIAC. Umar Frost added a season-high 12 points while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

Justin Street led LeMoyne-Owen (3-11, 2-2 SIAC) with 15 points.

The Tigers led from start to finish, scoring the first four points of the game and building as much as an 11-point lead in the first half, 21-10, on a dunk by Morris. The Magicians cut the lead to three points, but Benedict pushed the lead back to 10 points, 38-28, on a 3-pointer by Mike Udume at the half.

The Magicians scored the first six points of the second half, but the Tigers regrouped and grew the lead back to 11 points, 47-36, on a 3-pointer by Hawkins. Benedict built as much as a 19-point lead before LeMoyne-Owen scored the final five points.

Benedict is back in action on Tuesday, hosting Lane College in their rescheduled contest. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.