TENNESSEE STATE (2-10, 1-8)
vs EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-9, 2-5)
Thursday, Jan. 23 | 4 p.m.
Gentry Center | Nashville, Tenn.
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The Tennessee State men's basketball team ends its home stand Saturday afternoon as it hosts Eastern Illinois for its eighth home game of the season. Tip on ESPN+ and the Big Blue Sports Network is set for 4 p.m. in Gentry Center, following the Lady Tigers game.
A victory on Tuesday would mark the 30
th win for head coach Brian "Penny" Collins.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman point guard Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. scored a thrilling 32 points in the comeback attempt that fell short Thursday evening in the Gentry Center as the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars defeated the Tigers in its first game since Dec. 18, 67-65.
Tied at 64 with 1:35 left in regulation, SIUE's Shamar Wright came up with a slam dunk to take a two-point lead. The Tigers trapped and played stand-up defense until it was time to foul.
Foul one, a 51 percent free-throw shooter, missed both. Fitzgerald was fouled and made one, 66-65. Foul two, a 71 percent free throw shooter, made one, 67-65. On the final play, with two seconds on the clock,
Ravel Moody passed cross court to Mohamed at the wing. Mohamed pulls up and misses.
SIUE takes it 67-65.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Eastern Illinois is 5-9, 2-5 in Ohio Valley Conference action with both wins occurring in Charleston, Illinois to Tennessee Tech and Murray State, each by six points. The team is currently on a four-game losing streak with its latest loss at Belmont, 79-66 Thursday night.
Three Panthers average double-digit scoring, including Marvin Johnson who averages 16. 3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and leads the team with 37 assists throughout OVC action. Josiah Wallace isn't too far behind him averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds per game.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE PANTHERS
The Tigers garnered its sixth victory at home, 84-79, versus Eastern Illinois to kick off conference play.
An intense five minutes of offensive dominance for TSU allowed the Tigers to make its largest run of the season, 23-1, ending Eastern Illinois' sole lead early in the night. The 15-point lead helped lift the Tigers to its OVC season-opening victory – the first for Brian "Penny" Collins.
With a 40-26 lead at the break, the Tigers held strong answering the Panthers' scoring runs with shots beyond the arc or made free-throws to maintain the lead for the remainder of the night.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
