TENNESSEE STATE (2-6, 0-4)
vs JACKSONVILLE STATE (7-4, 3-2)
Thursday, Jan. 14 | 7:30 p.m.
Pete Mathews Coliseum | Jacksonville, Ala.  

LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
VIDEO: ESPN+
LISTEN: Big Blue Sports Network
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - @TSUTigersMBB
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GAMEDAY
The Tennessee State University men's basketball team hits the road after a week of rest due to a postponed game versus Southeast Missouri that was set for Saturday, Jan. 9. The Tigers are looking to improve its 1-4 conference record at Jacksonville State. Tip is set for Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and Big Blue Sports Network.
 
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
After going 1-6, 0-4 the Tigers were hungry for its first OVC and Div. I win of the season versus the Skyhawks and were successful in its feat, defeating UT Martin 72-64 last Thursday evening.
 
Ravel Moody entered the starting lineup against UT Martin after a career game at SEMO where the Denver native notched 18 points, seven rebounds. Yusuf Mohamed entered the lineup at the four spot after a nine rebound performance in Cape.
 
TSU ranks sixth in assists averaging 13.5 and fifth in defensive rebounds with 25.9 per game.
Offensive efforts for the Tigers are led by Mark Freeman and Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. who average 14.9 and 12.0 points per game, respectively.
 
Josh Linder is most successful when the ball reaches his hands in the post, as the newcomer is shooting 64.1 percent from the floor, ranking fourth. When the Tigers hit the charity stripe, Mason Green averages 80 percent.
 
Mark Freeman ranks sixth in assists per game, averaging 4.1.Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. moved his way into the fourth spot in 3-pt field goals made with 16 total, averaging 2.3.
 
Mark TSU's 82nd win over the last six years and Coach Collins' 30th win as a head coach.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee State men's basketball ran away with its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season Thursday night in the Gentry Center versus the UT Martin Skyhawks, 74-62.
The Tiger backcourt consisting of sophomore point guard Mark Freeman and sophomore Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. put up big numbers offensively. Freeman finished the night with 16 points, five assists, while Fitzgerald registered a career-high 21 points, three assists.
 
Down for much of the first half, the Tigers clawed its way through a nine-point deficit with a crowd pumping 10-point run kicked off with a Monty Johal three-pointer and closed out with a Josh Linder dunk.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Gamecocks sit in the sixth spot in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 7-4, 3-2 record this season. JSU has defeated UT Martin and Tennessee Tech, while dropping league matchups to EKU and Morehead State.
 
Darian Adams and Jalen Finch each average double digit scoring while Brandon Huffman who averaged double doubles over the course of last week's schedule is coming off a Newcomer of the Week award where the center scored 29 points and 26 rebounds.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE SKYHAWKS
The Tennessee State Tigers men's basketball team tied the all-time home win record of 11 with a 65-55 victory over Jacksonville State in the Gentry Center.
 
Contributing to the sting of the 17 point deficit TSU placed upon JSU, 20 minutes into the night The Tigers held the Gamecocks to just 16 percent shooting from the field, zero from beyond the arc, serving Jax State its lowest first-half score of the season, 13,.
 
With help from leading scorers Kayne Henry and Jacara Cross, who combined for 25 points, the Gamecocks returned to outscore the Tigers 42-35 in the second half to erase seven points from its deficit. However, a solid second period for the Tigers and a phenomenal period by Shakem Johnson lifted the Tigers to victory.
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
 The Tigers lead the all-time series against the Gamecocks, 20-15. Big Blue is on a two-game winning streak against the Gamecocks, after JSU swept the Tigers in year one under head coach Brian"Penny" Collins. When taking on the Gamecocks on the road, TSU is 2-2 in the last two years under Coach Collins and 6-12 in the all-time series at Pete Coliseum.

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
TSU will continue its road swing in Cookeville, Tenn. as the Tigers take on Tennessee Tech in the Eblen Center Saturday evening. Tip is set for 8 p.m.