Cedric Smith scored 17 points for Savannah State, which scored the first seven points and never trailed in a 67-44 victory over Bethune-Cookman in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night.
Smith made all six of his shots and got 10 points in the opening 7:15 to help the conference-leading Tigers (18-10, 11-2) take a 32-19 halftime lead.
The Wildcats (13-15, 9-4), who won the teams' first meeting this season 68-62 on Jan. 16, never got closer than 12 points in the second half.
Rashad Hassan and Arnold Louis added 11 points each and Jyles Smith 10 points for Savannah State, which made 25 of 32 free throws. Bethune-Cookman was just 7 of 15 from the line.
The Tigers are 13-1 at home this season, the only loss coming against Georgia Tech 65-45 on Dec. 10.
Adrien Coleman scored 11 points for Bethune-Cookman, the only Wildcats player in double figures.
