COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dimitri Cook broke a tie game with a driving layup and free throw with three seconds left to lift the 14^th-ranked Benedict College Tigers to an 83-79 victory over Augusta University on Tuesday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

After Cook sank the free throw to complete the three-point play, Cairo Brown stole the inbounds pass and sank one free throw to clinch the victory for the Tigers.

Benedict improves to 6-0 on the season. Augusta falls to 2-2.

Brandon Morris led the Tigers with 23 points and eight rebounds. Brown added 21 points and Jelani Watson-Gayle scored 18 points. Cook chipped in with 14 points.

Tamyrik Fields led the Jaguars with 23 points.

Augusta had a 41-35 lead at the half, but Benedict scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 43-41 lead, and the game stayed close the rest of the way.

Fields scored inside to cut Benedict's lead to 73-71 with 3:39 left to play. Brown drove to the basket on the other end and was fouled, and the Augusta head coach was whistled for a technical foul for leaving the coaching box. Brown sank four free throws to give the Tigers a six-point cushion with 3:34 remaining.

A basket by Watson-Gayle gave Benedict a 79-75 lead with 2:11 left, but Augusta tied the game on an offensive rebound layup by Deane Williams with 14 seconds on the clock, setting the stage for Cook's game-winning three-point play.

Benedict shot 49.1 percent while holding Augusta to 44.4 percent shooting, including 36.7 percent in the second half.

The Tigers play their next six games on the road, beginning with a road trip to western Tennessee to open SIAC play against LeMoyne-Owen on Saturday and Lane on Monday. The next home game will be Dec. 18 against Spring Hill College.