TENNESSEE STATE (2-7, 1-5)
vs TENNESSEE TECH (1-13, 1-6)
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 8 p.m.
Eblen Center | Cookeville, Tenn.  

LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
VIDEO: ESPN+
LISTEN: Big Blue Sports Network
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - @TSUTigersMBB
TICKETS: Purchase Here
 
GAMEDAY
The Tennessee State University men's basketball team continues its road swing just an hour east at Tennessee Tech, Saturday, Jan. 16. Tip on ESPN+ and the Big Blue Sports Network is set for 8 p.m.
 
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
TSU's schedule was altered once again last Saturday as SEMO was forced to reschedule its rematch against the Tigers to Tuesday, Jan. 19 in the Gentry Center due to COVID-19 protocols and contact tracing resulting in Southeast Missouri not having the requisite number of student-athletes available for the contest.
 
Ravel Moody entered the starting lineup against UT Martin after a career game at SEMO where the Denver native notched 18 points, seven rebounds. He's continued to flourish in the position, nothing a career high 24 points, six rebounds at Jacksonville State.
 
TSU ranks seventh in assists averaging 12.9 and in defensive rebounds with 25.7 per game. Offensive efforts for the Tigers are led by Mark Freeman and Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. who average 14.9 and 11.9 points per game, respectively. Shakem Johnson ranks seventh in offensive rebounds with 2.4 per game. When the Tigers hit the charity stripe, Mason Green averages 80 percent. Mark Freeman ranks eighth in assists per game, averaging 3.9 and tenth in steals with 1.7 per game. Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. moved his way into the fifth spot in 3-pt field goals made with 17 total, averaging 2.1. The Tigers rank fifth in three-point field goal defense.  
 
The Tigers have played four games where a win was within just four points.

A win would mark TSU's 82nd win over the last six years and Coach Collins' 30th win as a head coach.
 
LAST TIME OUT
A minute left in regulation and the Tigers are up by four. Shakem Johnson notched his third foul to send Darian Adams to the line for two, he makes one. Thirty-four seconds. Brandon Huffman lays one in. Five seconds. Brandon Huffman lays another in. Jacksonville State leads by one. With time for just one play, Freeman dribbles to half court, dishes to Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. on the wing. The buzzer sounds with the ball still in his hands. Jacksonville State defeats the Tigers on the road, 65-64.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE GOLDEN EAGLES
TSU snapped its two-game losing streak in a 70-55 win over the Golden Eagles on its way to 11 home wins last season in the Gentry Center.
 
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 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.
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
TSU is 35-35 in the all-time series against TTU. Collins is 3-1 against the Golden Eagles, winning the last three matchups, including an overtime victory late last season, 72-67. The Tigers and Tennessee Tech met once in the 1994 OVC Tournament Semifinals. TSU defeated the Golden Eagles 91-74. That year, TSU would move on to win the conference championship and make its second-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

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 returns home for a rescheduled matchup against SEMO, Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tip is set for 6 p.m.