Behind a solid defensive effort, the Tennessee State Lady Tigers were able to upset Morehead State 58-50 in the first round of the OVC Tournament.
TSU was able to limit the Eagles to just 34% from the floor and a frigid 18.8% from downtown, on the way to holding the fifth most potent offense in the Ohio Valley Conference to 16 points below their average. The Lady Tigers also forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 24 points.
Morehead took the lead seven seconds into the game on Hallie Rhodes’ layup. Lyric Cole’s jumper put the Lady Tigers out in front for the first time of the afternoon at 3-2. Tennessee State built their lead to as much as eight points but was able to hang on to a 17-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
A 9-2 spurt in the opening minutes of the second quarter allowed the Eagles to take a 21-19 lead. Tennessee State reclaimed the lead on a Zion Shannon three-pointer that made the score 26-23 and could hang on to a 28-26 lead into halftime.
Blessing King’s layup on the opening possession of the third quarter tied the game at 28. Sanaa’ St Andre’s layup in the paint 80 seconds later gave TSU back the lead at 30-28.
Morehead State was able to draw within a bucket on multiple occasions but could get no closer as the Tennessee State defense was able to force 7 MSU turnovers, which they turned into 10 points, in the quarter.
Morehead shot just 33% in the fourth quarter, further hurting their comeback bid by committing another six turnovers in the frame. Tennessee State was able to maintain their lead, as the Eagles could never draw any closer than four points.
Eboni Williams led the way for the Lady Tigers with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Sanaa’ St. Andre and Lyric Cole were the other TSU players in double-figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
In a losing effort, Hallie Rhodes was one town Morehead player in double figures, with 15 points and 11 rebounds; Veronica Charles added 10 points of her own.
With the win, the Lady Tigers advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon, where Eastern Illinois’s No. 5 seed Panthers await.
Tennessee State men shake off slow start to blow past Southern Indiana
Tennessee State shot 56% from the floor and converted 20 of their 24 free throw attempts in the second half to shake off a slow start and defeat Southern Indiana 78-64 in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
Tennessee State was sluggish for most of the first half as The Screaming Eagles took a 33-30 lead into halftime.
Southern Indiana stretched their advantage to seven points early in the second half. Shortly after that, Tennessee State responded with a 10-0 run to retake the lead at 44-40 at the 14:14 mark.
The Screaming Eagles sliced the lead to a single point, but the Tigers were able to get out front for the balance of the game Jason Jitoboh’s dunk with 2:15 left in regulation stretched the Tennessee State lead to 70-60. Kinyon Hodges’ steal and slam put an emphatic end.
E.J. Bellinger led four Tennessee State players in double figures with 17 points and six rebounds. Christian Brown added 16 points and 6 rebounds. Michael Sharks scored 13, and Kinyon Hodges chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Ryan Hall was the Screaming Eagles’ leading scorer with 14 points. Jack Campion added 13 points of his own, and Javius Moore also chipped in with 10 points.
Tennessee State takes on Western Illinois in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
