COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College men's basketball team won their first game of the season with a 64-56 victory over Shaw University on Tuesday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Brandon Smith scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half as the Tigers held off a furious rally by the Bears. Tajh Green added 15 points, while Timothy Bing Jr. chipped in 12 points, and Tyrese Mapp finished with 10 points.

Benedict jumped out to an early double-digit lead, taking a 20-6 lead on a fast-break layup by Brandon Beidleman with 10:39 left in the first half. Shaw cut the lead to 28-20 at the half.

Shaw scored the first four points of the second half to cut the lead to four points, 28-24. The Tigers pushed the lead back to 49-34 on a 3-pointer by Smith. The Bears chipped away and cut the lead to 57-55 with 1:57 left in the game. Bing sealed the game with a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left for a 60-55 lead. Benedict hit four-of-six free throws in the final 24 seconds to hang on to the victory.

The Tigers take on Clinton College on Saturday at 3 p.m. in an exhibition game before traveling to take on Augusta University on Tuesday.