Price Leads Tigers to 60-58 Win At Illinois
The Tennessee State University Tigers (4-7) ended their
non-conference schedule and the year
(2007) with a 60-58 upset win over the University
of Illinois (8-5) in Champaign, Illinois.
Junior guard Bruce Price scored 17 points to lead TSU and Jerrell Houston added 12 points with 6 rebounds to gain the upset win.
The teams played close in the first half, with four ties
through the 7:09 mark at 16-16. TSU went on a 7-1 run for a 23-17 lead at 4:23
and a 29-24 lead at halftime. The Tigers shot 40% (12-30) from the floor in the
first half, and 41.7% (5-12) from three point range. Price scored 11 points
hitting a variety of acrobatic shots and a 3-pointer with five seconds
remaining in the half.
In the second half, the Tigers opened a 13-point lead
(48-35) with 12:56 remaining, but Illinois
slowly chipped away at the lead to close within one-point (59-58) with 1:06
remaining. Illinois
center Shaun Pruitt missed two FTs with 0:09 remaining and TSU's Jerrell
Houston was fouled on the rebound and hit the second of two shots for the 60-58
score. Illinois
missed a final shot at the buzzer and TSU took the win.
Illinois
guard Trent Meacham scored a game-high 24 points and was the only player in
double figures.
TSU shot 52.6% (10-19) from the field in the second half and
45% for the game. The Tigers were out-rebounded 40-24, but forced 13 turnovers
while committing just seven.
The Tigers will next host Morehead State
on Thursday, January 3, 2008. This will be TSU's first home game since November
11, 2007.
