BOX SCORE

Final Score: Tennessee State 70, Tennessee Tech 55
Records: TSU (16-11, 8-6), TTU (7-20, 4-10)
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Gentry Center
Attendance: 2,022

NASHVILLE --- The luck of the Gentry Center continues as the Tennessee State men's basketball team defeated Tennessee Tech Saturday, 70-55, improving the Tigers' record to 16-11, 8-6 overall, snapping its two-game losing streak.

Michael Littlejohn was the highlight of the night, finishing with a team-high 17 points, 14 of which were scored in the second half off of the five made threes. The Tigers' largest lead of 22 occurred with 4:27 left in the game after a Littlejohn three-pointer.

Jy'lan Washington and Shakem Johnson scored double-digits in large part due to each other. Johnson registered five assists on the night, all dropped off to Washington under the rim.

TSU's home record improves to 10-2 with only two games left in the Gentry Center.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
  • Points: Michael Littlejohn - 17
  • Rebounds: Jy'lan Washington - 10
  • Assists: Mark Freeman - 7
  • Steals: Michael Littlejohn - 3
  • Blocks: Emmanuel Egbuta/Shakem Johnson – 1
• The Tigers held TTU to 29.9 percent shooting from the floor and 11.1 percent from three-point distance.
• Littlejohn went 5-of-14 from beyond the arc.
• Four Tigers scored double-digits: Littlejohn 17, Washington 15, Harris 13, Johnson 11.
• Jy'lan Washington marked his third double-double of the season 15 points, 10 rebounds.
• Freeman tied for his career-high assists, seven.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tennessee Tech's leading scorer, Jr. Clay took possession after four missed shots, driving to the paint. Clay kicked it out to Davidson who touched the paint, then kicked it back to Clay who pulled up for the first made shot of the game, a TTU three.
• After five Golden Eagle points, Shakem Johnson put the first TSU points on the board at 17:30.
• TSU dominated the paint, marking 8 of its first 10 points there.
• Stuck at 11-10 for almost four minutes, the Golden Eagles decided to end the drought with three-point play.
• Big Blue committed seven turnovers over 12 minutes.
• Tied at 16, Washington finished a three-point play followed by a Shakem Johnson dunk on the fast break assisted by Mark Freeman.
• Michael Littlejohn dropped a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds on the clock to close the half, 30-21. TTU went without a bucket for the final 3:30 of the period.
• 12-6 TSU outscoring TTU, 8-0 run creating TSU's largest lead of the game (15).
• 13-6 TTU. 48-40. Littlejohn five-straight points (2x FT, 3) 14-of-18 TSU points.

GAME NOTES

• TSU is 35-35 in the all-time series against TTU.
• When taking on the Golden Eagles at home, TSU is split at 17-17 in the all-time series, winning the first-of-the-last-four matchups in the Gentry Center.
• Brian "Penny" Collins is 3-1 over Tennessee Tech.

UP NEXT
TSU hits the Kentucky road swing next Thursday, kicking off the week at Eastern Kentucky. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
 

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