ESPN Men's Basketball

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Pendarvis Williams had 16 points as Norfolk State topped Savannah State 55-45 in each team's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Saturday night.

Williams connected on 6 of 11 from the field. Jamel Fuentes was the only other Spartan in double figures with 11 points.

Norfolk State (4-5, 1-0) held preseason MEAC Player of the Year Rashad Hassan to nine points and seven rebounds. Stephen Wilson led the Tigers (5-4, 0-1) with 13 points, and Preston Blackman had 12.

Savannah State led 28-25 at halftime, but shot just 22.6 percent (7 of 31) from the field in the second half. Norfolk State came out of halftime with a 7-2 scoring run, and used an 8-3 run to take a 52-42 lead with 1:07 left on Rob Johnson's free-throw make.

Norfolk State hit 14 of 21 from the foul line in the second half and 17 of 26 for the game.