BOX SCORE
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- The Tennessee State men's basketball team picked up key defensive stops when it mattered the most in a 69-65 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday night at the Leavey Center on day two of the Cable Car Classic.
The Tigers improve to 2-0 for the sixth time at the Division I level and the first time since the 2001-02 season. The Lumberjacks fall to 0-2 on the young season.
TSU, which held Northern Arizona to 29.3 percent shooting for the game, was led offensively by 16 points from Tahjere McCall (Philadelphia, Pa.) and 14 from Ken'Darrius Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.).
A tightly-contested first half saw neither team lead by more than four points. Hamilton scored the first six points of the game for TSU, helping the Tigers jump out to an 11-7 lead eight minutes in.
TSU regained a four-point edge later in the half at 27-23 with 1:24 remaining before halftime. The Lumberjacks were able to close the half on a mini 5-0 run capped by a three from Mike Green at the buzzer as Northern Arizona took a 30-28 halftime lead.
TSU held Northern Arizona to 24.2 percent shooting in the first half but was slowed by 12 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
There was more back-and-forth play in the second half with neither team taking control. On back-to-back plays, McCall gave the Tigers a five point lead at 61-56 on a tip in followed by a dunk.
With the game on the line, McCall drove to the basket and finished an acrobatic layup with 15.4 seconds left to put the Tigers up 68-65. TSU came up with a defensive stop and Darreon Reddick (Belleville, Ill.) iced the game at the free throw line with 0.7 seconds left.
TSU held a 45-35 rebounding edge led by nine boards apiece from Jordan Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Wayne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
The Tigers wrap up the Cable Car Classic tomorrow versus the host Santa Clara. Opening tip is set for 2:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. CT)
GAME NOTES: Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between TSU and Northern Arizona… Tahjere McCall scored in double figures for the second game in a row… TSU has started the year 2-0 six times since joining Division I prior to the 1977-78 season… TSU's last 2-0 start came in 2001-02.
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