OPENING TIP: Tennessee State had its five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday at Morehead State with three games remaining in the regular season. TSU will play two of its final three at the Gentry Center hosting SIUE and Southern Indiana (Next Saturday). The Tigers will play in-state foe UT Martin on Thursday on ESPNU.

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 (16-17 8-7 OVC) vs SIUE Cougars (17-5, 8-7 OVC)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 18 at 3:30 PM  (approx 30 minutes after the WBB game)
Location: Gentry Center || Nashville
TV:  ESPN+
Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)
LIVE STATS

SIUE SERIES INFORMATION: Thursday is the 19th all-time meeting between TSU and SIUE. TSU leads 12-6, which dates back to 1971.TSU has won three of the last four meetings.

SCOUTING SIUE: The Cougars have dropped the last two games to Eastern Illinois and UT Martin. The last four games for the Cougars have ended within nine points. SIUE concludes the season with home games against Little Rock and SEMO. Ray'Sean Taylor leads the team averaging 15.4 points per game. In the loss to EIU, Taylor was held to nine points. Damarco Minor has stepped up in the last four contests averaging 19.5 points per game. Shamar Wright was held scoreless against UT Martin. 

LAST TIME OUT VS. SIUE: Jr. Clay and Marcus Fitzgerald each scored 20+ points but SIUE got to the line often scoring 30 of its 81 points from the charity stripe in an 81-72 win on January 5. Clay's 22 points was a game-high with Fitzgerald right behind with 21. Adong Makuoi had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers. Damarco Minor had 18 points and the Wright brothers combined for 23 points.

DEADLY DEDRIC: Dedric Boyd had a field day from behind the arc knocking down an amazing 8-of-9 for 28 points. Boyd was one three shy of tying his career-best and the TSU single-game best which he matched against Bryan on December 12. Boyd was also one point shy of his career-best of 29 vs. Bryan.

A RARE LOSS: The loss to Morehead State (11) is only the second time this season TSU lost a game when knocking down double-digit three-pointers. The only other loss was to SEMO when they nailed 10 three-pointers.

MAKE OR BREAK AT THE LINE: Tennessee State only made 3-of-12 from the free throw line, which is the worst free throw percentage (.250) by the team this season. TSU is 1-3 in games when it makes less than double digits from the line. In the only win against Boyce, TSU hit 3-of-5 from the line.