COLUMBIA, S.C. – Central State made four free throws in the final 27 seconds to edge Benedict College 61-57 in a SIAC men's basketball contest on Thursday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
Malachi Chavis tied the game at 57 with 48 seconds left on a layup, and was fouled. He missed the potential go-ahead free throw. Twenty seconds later, the Marauders went to the line and sank a pair of free throws. Benedict missed a 3-point attempt, and Central State sealed the game with two more free throws with five seconds left to play.
 
Central State had as much as a 12-point lead, 22-10, in the first half. The Tigers stormed back to tie the game at 25 on a 3-pointer by Caleb Hymon. The Marauders took a 35-27 lead at the half.
 
The second half was close, with Central State never leading by more than five points, and Benedict's largest lead was three points. The game was tied four times in the second half. Central  State went 19-of-21 (90.5 percent) from the line, including a perfect 14-of-14 in the second half.
 
Chavis led the Tigers with a season-high 16 points. Hymon and Landon Jeffries added 11 points each.

Benedict falls to 7-8 overall and 7-8 in the SIAC. Central State improves to 9-8 overall and 8-7 in the SIAC.
 
Benedict is back in action with a Friday matinee contest against Kentucky State at 2 p.m.