OPENING TIP: The final two games of a five-game road swing pits Tennessee State at Atlantic 10 member Saint Louis on Wednesday evening before returning to Nashville to face I-24 foe and former OVC member, Austin Peay, on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers return after a 1-2 mark at the SoCal Challenge with a win over CSUN in the opening game in San Juan Capistrano before falling to High Point in the San Division Championship round. TSU met Southern Illinois out of the Surf Division in the on-campus game before its West Coast appearance.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU expanded its partnership with Cromwell Media naming 102.1 FM The Ville as the flagship station for TSU men's basketball. "The Voice of the Tigers" Greg Pogue returns for his 11th season behind the mic and will be reunited with his longtime partner Albert Dawson. The pregame show will begin 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the contest not the actual tip time in doubleheader situations. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app.
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (4-2, 0-0 OVC) at Saint Louis Billikens (5-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 30 at 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Chaifetz Arena || St. Louis, Mo.
TV: Bally Sports Midwest | ESPN+
Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)
LIVE STATS
SAINT LOUIS SERIES INFORMATION: Saint Louis leads the all-time series 4-0 with wins in 1989, 1992, 2010, and 2011. All four games have been played in Saint Louis.
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS: The Billikens have played one of the toughest nonconference schedule to date with wins over Murray State, Evansville, Memphis, Providence, and non-D1 member Paul Quinn. SLU is led by Gibson Jimerson averaging 14.3 points per game with a team-best 25 made threes despite only getting to the line eight times. A three-point specialist, Gibson has only connected one nine of his 34 buckets from inside the arc. Yuri Collins, Javonte Perkins, and Javon Pickett are also averaging double digits for former OVC (Eastern Kentucky) head coach Travis Ford.
DEEP THREAT: As a team, TSU is averaging 8.5 made three-pointers per contest at a 34.2 clip. TSU has knocked down at least eight or more triples in five of six games this season with a season-best 11 made baskets twice against Fisk (11-of-27) and Alabama A&M (11-of-30). In California, the Tigers knocked down a total of 16 triples.
PROTECT THE BALL: TSU has done a good job protecting the Rock with just 76 turnovers this season. During the SoCal Challenge, TSU only turned the ball over 18 times (9.0) in two games. The eight turnovers in the win over CSUN were the lowest of the season. As a team, the Tigers have forced 90 opposition giveaways.
FITZ NAMED TO SOCAL CHALLENGE ALL-TOURNEY TEAM: Marcus Fitzgerald was selected to the SoCal Challenge All-Tournament team after propelling the Tigers in the final minute over CSUN with 17 points. He added 12 points in the final contest against High Point.
GET HIM TO THE LINE: Fitzgerald is shooting 75 percent from the free throw line knocking down 21-of-28 opportunities. In the season-opening win over Fisk, Fitzgerald hit nine of his 10 changes from the charity stripe and made at least one free throw in the first five games.
BROWN HITS SEASON BEST IN MINUTES: Christian Brown played a season-best 21:40 in the loss to High Point on Nov. 23. Brown finished the contest with 12 points, four rebounds, and shot 50 percent from the field. In his season debut vs. Alabama A&M, Brown played in 19:39 and had a season-best 20 points.
BROWN 666: Christian Brown is showing 60+ percent in all three shooting categories this season. The forward from South Carolina is hitting 60 percent from the field, 61.5 percent from the outside, and 61.1 percent from the line.
CLAY'S NEAR DD: Jr. Clay had 11 rebounds, 10 on the defensive end with eight points against High Point. The guard also had seven assists and a block.
A10 UP: Adong Makuoi had his TSU-best 12 points with five rebounds against High Point on 3-of-5 from the field in 30:34. Makuoi hit a career-best six-of-six from the free throw line.
SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: The SoCal Challenge was a homecoming for Justin Williams who played all four of his high school year at JSerra, the site of the event. Williams averaged 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 32 minutes during the two games in California.
BOYD'S SEASON-BEST: Dedric Boyd has a season-high 12 points on 4-of-9 from the field in 12 minutes against High Point.
