COLUMBIA, S.C. – Timothy Bing Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 left to give Benedict a 76-74 lead, and the Tigers hit five of six free throws down the stretch to take an 80-74 victory over Savannah State University on Saturday in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Benedict improves to 13-4 overall and 9-1 in the SIAC. Savannah State falls to 5-8 overall and 4-4 in the SIAC.

Bing finished with 20 points and six assists to lead the Tigers. Tajh Green added 16 points, while Calvin McCutcheon came off the bench to score all 10 of his points in the second half.

The Tigers took as much as a nine-point lead, 26-17, in the first half before Savannah State rallied to outscore Benedict 17-1 and took a 34-27 lead. A jumper by Bing and a free throw by Marshaun West cut the lead to 34-32 at the half.

Brandon Smith led off the second half with a 3-pointer to give Benedict the lead, 35-34, and the second half stayed close. The Tigers took their largest lead of the second half, 55-46, after four free throws. Savannah State tied the game at 60 with 6:36 left to play and the score stayed within two points until the final minute.

Benedict is back in action next Saturday with a road game at Clark Atlanta.