Savannah State Tigers basketball

History

Conference championships and NCAA playoffs

Prior to moving into the NCAA, the Tigers appeared in post season play in the NAIA collegiate level. The Tigers appeared in 3 NAIA National Men's Basketball National Tournaments in 1960, 1961, and 1962 with a total combined tournament record of 2–3.

Before moving to Division I the team won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 1970, 1979, 1980, and 1981.

The 1978–79 Tigers won an overtime game against Albany (NY) (82–81) in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, but lost in the second round to Centre College (82–54).

In the 1980 Division III playoffs, the Tigers defeated UNC Greensboro in the first round (61–58) before losing to Lane College in the regional championships (87–70).

The 1980–81 Tigers won the SIAC Division III Championship and the NCAA South Regional Championship before finishing the season as the NCAA Division III South Quarterfinal runner-up. During this run they defeated the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the first round (76–62), and Rhodes College in the regional championships (76–75) before losing an overtime game to Otterbein College in the quarterfinals (67– 64).

Division I

The school gained notoriety when they finished the 2004–05 season a winless 0–28, the first Division I team to do so since Prairie View A&M in 1991–92.

Horace Broadnax became the men's head basketball coach in 2005. In his sixth year as the head coach of the Tigers, the 2011–12 season, he was named the MEAC Coach of the Year as he guided the team to a 14–2 conference record and the school's first MEAC regular season title.

The Tigers were the 2011–12 MEAC regular season champions and received an automatic bid into the 2012 NIT, their first ever appearance in any Division I tournament as a Division I member. The team posted a 21–10 overall mark and lead the MEAC in scoring defense, only allowing 58.9 points per game and were second in the conference in scoring margin (+5.4).

The Tigers were ineligible for postseason play in the 2016–17 season due to APR violations. The Tigers were initially ruled to be ineligible for postseason play for a second consecutive season in 2017–18 due to APR violations. However, the NCAA granted the Tigers a waiver which would allow them to participate in postseason play.

On April 17, 2017, the school announced that it would return to Division II due to financial issues associated with competing in Division I. On December 7, 2017, the school announced it would rejoin Division II's SIAC, pending NCAA approval.

NCAA records

Savannah State set the NCAA records for fewest points in a half (4 points) and the worst field goal percentage in a half (4.3 percent) in an 85–25 loss to Kansas State on January 7, 2009. The Tigers completed the second half 1-for-23, breaking the shot-clock era record.

Postseason

NCAA Division II

The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament once.

NCAA Division III

The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament three times. Their combined record is 4–2.

NAIA tournament results

The Tigers have appeared in the NAIA Tournament three times. Their combined record is 2–3.

NIT results

The Tigers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) one time. Their record is 0–1.

CIT results

The Tigers have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. Their combined record is 0–2.

Season by season record

Conference regular season Champions Conference tournament champions Conference Tournament and regular season champions

Notable alumni

Six Savannah State alumni became members of the Harlem Globetrotters:

• Tyrone "Hollywood" Brown
• Harold "Bobo" Hubbard
• Matt "Showbiz" Jackson
• Mike Jordan
• Kevin Sutlon
• Vincent White

References

References

1. "Savannah State joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". savannahnow.com.
2. "Savannah State plans to move athletics down to Division II". savannahnow.com.
3. Ridpath, B. David. "Savannah State Is Doing The Right Thing By Downsizing Athletics". Forbes.
4. "SSU moves to Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference".
5. "SIAC Basketball Champions". Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
6. "Former Savannah State Men's Basketball Coach Dies".
7. "Official 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Records Book".
8. (2005-05-28). "Tigers finish season 0–28". ESPN.com.
9. "Winless Savannah State Gets New Coach". CSTV.com.
10. (2005-02-17). "SSU fires men's basketball coach Daniels".
11. "Savannah State University Head Men's Basketball Coach: Horace Broadnax". Savannah State University.
12. "MEAC announces All-MEAC Men's Basketball Honors". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
13. "Only 2 schools banned from NCAA Tournament due to low APR scores". CBS Sports.
14. "17 D-I teams don't make NCAA grade, banned from postseason". USA Today.
15. "Swag, speed and threes: Savannah State is the fastest team in college basketball". Mid-Major Madness.
16. "Never Made the Tourney Club Update, 1/25: Savannah State lives, South Dakota is on fire". Mid-Major Madness.
17. "Savannah State misses its way into record books vs. K-State".
18. (2012-03-02). "Savannah State clinches top seed in 2012 tournament". [[Associated Press]].
19. Barnidge, Noell. (2008-02-29). "Tigers end season with loss". Savannah Morning News.
20. (2005-02-17). "Notes: Savannah State fires coach after winless season". USA Today.
21. (March 2025). "Savannah State's Curtis Relieved of Coaching Duties".
22. (1999-07-23). "Morris Brown Announced New Coaches".
23. (2002-04-24). "John Williams To Take Over Women's Basketball Program at Winston-Salem State".
24. (2002-08-17). "Savannah State names three head coaches".
25. "Russell Ellington: A Coach for Life".
26. "Past tournament champions". SIAC.
27. "NBA/ABA Players who attended Savannah State University".
28. "Harlem Globetrotters All-time Roster". Harlem Globetrotters.