TENNESSEE STATE (1-4, 0-2)
vs AUSTIN PEAY (5-3, 1-1)
Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 7 p.m.
Gentry Center | Nashville, Tenn.

LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
VIDEO: ESPN+
LISTEN: Big Blue Sports Network
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - @TSUTigersMBB
TICKETS: More Info | Ticketmaster  | Call 615.969.ROAR
 
GAMEDAY
The Tennessee State University men's basketball team hosts league favorite Austin Peay at home, Wednesday, Dec. 30 in its first OVC doubleheader of the year with 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+ and Big Blue Sports Network.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mark Freeman, Big Blue's standout point guard, led the team in the battle to defeat the undefeated Chattanooga Mocs Tuesday afternoon in the Gentry Center. TSU had its best shooting night of the season, holding UTC to just 36 percent from the floor. The defensive lockdown and offensive accuracy didn't prove fruitful on the Tigers' journey to knock off UTC, as the team lost in the final minute of action, 66-63.
 
While leading UTC for much of the 40 minute matchup, Freeman scored 20 points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out six assists for the Tigers. Two additional Tigers scored double-digits: Josh Linder 13 and Shakem Johnson 11.
 
Malachi Smith, the Mocs' 6-4, 205 pound athletic point guard scored 20 of his 29 points in the second period after entering the locker room down 28-25, lifting the team to its ninth victory of the season.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
League favorites Austin Peay sits on a 5-3, 1-1 record after a slightly bumpy start to the season. The Govs suffered a loss to Murray State, who tied for preseason favorite, but rallied to split the series with the Racers, 1-1.
 
Two-time Preseason Player of the Year Terry Taylor is averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, carrying the Govs through the unprecedented COVID season.
 
APSU head coach Matt Figger is looking for his 68^th win, a task that won't come easy in the Gentry Center as the Govs have struggled to claim a win over the Tigers away from Clarksville.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE GOVS
The luck of the Gentry Center brought good fortune to the Tennessee State men's basketball team Thursday night, as the Tigers served the Austin Peay Governors its first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season, 70-68.
 
After working with only eight players for the last few games of the season, Big Blue utilized eight-of-10 players offensively during the first half. Jy'lan Washington led the team with eight points, while Wesley Harris and Shakem Johnson added six boards a piece. Michael Littlejohn summed seven points and dished out two assists. Entering the break, the Tigers led the Governors 37-36. 
 
Carlos Marshall Jr. proved to be the difference maker for TSU, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, summing 19 points in the second period alone. He also grabbed five rebounds, recorded an assist and blocked a shot to mark himself as player of the game as Tennessee State defeated the Govs, improving its home record to 9-1.
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
This marks the 80th meeting between Tennessee State and Austin Peay. TSU is 4-4 in the last four meetings with three wins occurring in the Gentry Center. Six games between the foes have gone into overtime -four in Clarksville, once during the first round of the OVC tournament in 2007. TSU is 2-4 in overtime games versus Austin Peay.
 
Brian "Penny" Collins is 1-3 against the Govs.
 
Austin Peay's largest scoring margin versus the Tigers in Clarksville occurred Feb. 12, 2007. The Govs defeated TSU 89-44 (45 points). TSU beat the Govs by 19 (88-69) in a leap year, Feb. 29, 1984, marking the largest lead away from home Big Blue has recorded.

COVERAGE
Watch the game live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available on StatBroadcast. Follow along on social media @TSUTigersMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
 
UP NEXT
The Tigers hit the road for the Cape as Big Blue kicks off the new year with a 5 p.m. game against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks.