SAVANNAH, Ga.   --  Brandon Tabb scored a game-high and career-high 30 points in Bethune-Cookman's 104-91 loss to Savannah State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night.

Robert Kelly of Savannah State made all 11 of his field goals and three free throws for 26 points as the Tigers (4-10 overall, 1-0 MEAC) opened up an 87-69 lead with 8:22 remaining after Bethune-Cookman (3-11) went scoreless for a four-minute stretch.

Diamante Lewis finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Wildcats, who remained winless on the road – nine road games and one neutral site game.

Reggie Baker and Quinton Forrest each finished with a double-double – Baker had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Forrest posted 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Bethune-Cookman had a 41-33 on a Tabb 3-pointer with 7:17 left in the first half, but the Tigers scored 10 unanswered points to take the lead. Savannah State pulled away from a 45-45 tie for a 59-51 halftime lead.

The Wildcats return "home" Saturday to face Morgan State. Game time is 9 p.m. at the Gale Lemerand Center on the Daytona State College campus.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG

"I thought the 50-50 balls were a big thing. They'd beat us to the ball, and score off it."

"We can't go 14-23 from the line and expect to win."

"Pace was one we haven't seen all year. It's hard to prepare for that. A game like this will help us in the long run, especially when it comes to transition defense."

NOTES

1)    The 91 team points tied a season-high. The other 91 point game was the 3 OT loss at San Diego
2)    B-CU's 77 field goal attempts were a season high.
3)    This was Forrest's second double-double of the season and Baker's first.
4)    Tabb's 30 points was the first for a B-CU player since Jordan Potts' 35 against UCF last year.
5)    Houston Smith had a career-high 8 rebounds.