NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State men's basketball team fell to cross-town rival, Belmont, 88-61.
 
FIRST HALF: Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. logged all 10 of his points in the first half. Carlos Marshall Jr. added five points and three rebounds. The Bruins shot 53.5% from the field in the opening stanza. Nine players scored for Belmont in the first 20 minutes of action. The Bruins' Ben Sheppard logged eight points, three rebounds and two assists. || Belmont 41-24
 
SECOND HALF: Shakem Johnson registered seven of his team-high 11 points in the second half. Kenny Cooper filled up the stat sheet with seven points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. In the final 20 minutes, Belmont's Nick Muszynski recorded 17 of his game-high 24 points. The Bruins shot 65.4% from the field in the second stanza. || Belmont, 88-61
 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• Shakem Johnson led the team with 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.
• Three Tigers scored in double-figures while Belmont had 10 players registered a basket.
• The OVC's all-time leader in assists, Grayson Murphy, swiped five steals in the first half.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Johnson, a senior from Ohio, led the team in scoring for the first time this season.
• Marshall Jr. has scored in double-figures in 10 of the last 12 games.
• Belmont's Nick Muszynski tallied 24 points, three shy of his career-high.

UP NEXT: Tennessee State will travel to UT Martin on Saturday afternoon as tip-off is scheduled for 3:30pm.