OPENING TIP: A bumpy road to start OVC play but just like the City bird of Nashville (the Crane) TSU is building every day towards March and is back in action on Saturday hosting conference newcomer Little Rock at approx. 3:30 PM.

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU expanded its partnership with Cromwell Media, naming 102.1 FM The Ville as the flagship TSU men's basketball station. "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 (8-6, 0-1 OVC) vs Little Rock Trojans (5-9, 1-0 OVC)
Date/Time: Saturday, December 31 at 3:30 p.m. CT (approx 30 minutes after the WBB game)
Location: Gentry Center || NASHVILLE
TV:  ESPN+ — Will Brown (pxp), Ron Slay (analyst)
Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)
LIVE STATS

LITTLE ROCK SERIES INFORMATION: Saturday is the 4th meeting between TSU and Little Rock. ULR is 2-1 all-time against TSU which dates back to 1992, the lone TSU win (62-60) at the SE Missouri Tournament. TSU fell to Little Rock in nonconference games in 2018 and 2019 before the Trojans joined the OVC to begin the 2022-23 season. 

SCOUTING LITTLE ROCK: ULR picked up its first OVC win in its debut on Thursday defeating UT Martin, 88-74. Myron Gardner led the Trojans with 23 points, went to the line 19 times, and pulled down 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double. DeAntoni Gordon added 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Gardner leads the squad averaging 14.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 31.5 minutes per game. He is also the second-best shooter from the outside at 37.3 percent from beyond the arc. DJ Smith is second on the team in scoring at 11.4 points per contest and is the top free throw shooter at 84.1 percent.

MOREHEAD STATE RECAP: TSU dropped its OVC opener on Thursday to OVC preseason favorite Morehead State, 83-75. The Tigers had four players score in double figures, led by Jr. Clay, who had 18 points and three steals. Christian Brown tacked on 16 points and seven rebounds and Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. helped out with 15 points and two steals. After falling behind 23-11, Tennessee State went on a 7-0 run with 11:25 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Brown, to narrow its deficit to 23-18. Morehead State answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Tigers down 40-33 entering halftime. Morehead State kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 41-33 advantage before Tennessee State went on an 11-0 run to seize a 44-41 lead with 15:25 to go in the contest. Morehead State re-asserted control, outscoring the Tigers 42-31 the rest of the way to hand Tennessee State the 83-75 loss. Tennessee State got out on the break in the period, scoring 12 fast break points.