COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers placed six players in double figures to defeat Life University 90-77 on Tuesday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

The Tigers improved to 4-1 on the season. Life University fell to 4-3.

Lafonzo Smith led the Tigers with 17 points and had a team-high eight rebounds. Brennan Reynard added 16 points and Jordan Smith had 14 points. Quayshun Hawkins scored 12 points, while Christopher Spencer and Rydealous Taylor chipped in 10 points each.

The Running Eagles jumped out to a hot start, leading by as much as 11 points in the first half on several occasions. The last time was a 25-14 lead with 9:27 left in the first half.

The Tigers rallied to tie the game at 30-30 on a 3-pointer by Hawkins and then took their first lead of the game, 34-33, on two free throws by Quiron Cooke with 2:40 left in the half. Benedict outscored Life 7-2 in the final minute, with Reynard scoring on a fast-break layup right before the buzzer, for a 41-37 halftime lead.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jordan Smith and Reynard gave the Tigers a 60-49 lead. Benedict took its largest lead of the game, 80-61 with 5:49 left to play, after a 3-pointer by Taylor and two free throws by Hawkins.

The Tigers will travel to Albany, Ga., this weekend for the ASU Thanksgiving Holiday Classic. Benedict will face Columbus State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., then take on Georgia College on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.