Score: Tennessee State 91, Tennessee Tech 86
Records: TSU (4-16, 3-14), TTU (3-21, 3-14)
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Arena: Gentry Center
Attendance: 202
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NASHVILLE --- A final six free throws made by sophomore
Mark Freeman pushed the Tigers past the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles for a 91-86 win in the Gentry Center Thursday night. Â
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Mark Freeman led the Tigers with 22 points and a career-high 13 assists, helping five more Tennessee State players score double-figures including
Monty Johal who led with a career-high 16 points on 3-for-6 three-point shooting.
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Jr. Clay led the game with 26 points and Damaria Franklin with 23, scoring more than 50 percent of the Golden Eagle's points.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- TSU Leaders
- Points: Freeman - 22
- Rebounds: Linder - 6
- Assists: Freeman - 13
- Blocks: Moody/Joyner - 1
- Steals: Freeman – 4
- This marks the third double-double a Tiger had this season.
- The Tigers led for 24:40 of the night.
- There were 23 lead changes and 10 ties.
- Big Blue had 36 points in the paint.
- TSU had 29 points off the bench.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Yusuf Mohamed hit back-to-back three-point shots followed by a save on the baseline by Shakwon Barrett to even the score, 10-10.
- Through the middle of the half, the lead changed 10 times, each team producing offensively.
- Five-straight points by Freeman extended Big Blue's lead to four. Â
- A three-point Jr. Clay buzzer beater closed the half, TSU up 39-38.
- Shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc, the Tigers began to pull away from the Golden Eagles leading by as much as nine with 15 minutes left in the game.
- A Tennessee Tech 10-point run gave the team its first lead in 18 minutes of action, 55-54.
- Johal and Freeman combined for nine points, Big Blue up 66-61.
- Tied at 76, TTU took to the charity stripe for four-straight bookended by jumpers for an eight-point lead 82-76.
- Big Blue outscored the Golden Eagles 9-4 over the next two minutes.
- Freeman closed the game with six free throws, 91-86.Â
GAME NOTES
- Tennessee State ties the all-time series against Tennessee Tech, 36-36.
- Collins is 4-2 against the Golden Eagles.
- The Tigers snapped its six-game losing streak with the win at home.
UP NEXT
The Tigers close its home stand with senior night against Jacksonville State, Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.
#BigBlueRisingÂ