CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –The Tennessee State men's basketball team controlled the glass, defended at a high level, and led wire-to-wire in a 70-64 road victory over Chattanooga on Sunday at the Coke Zero Sugar Classic.
The Tigers (5-3) had three players finish in double figures, paced by Aaron Nkrumah's 17 points and five assists as the junior once again delivered timely scoring in key moments. Travis Harper II matched him with 17 points of his own while adding six rebounds, and Dante Harris continued his steady play with 15 points and two steals, including multiple momentum-saving buckets down the stretch.
Tennessee State dominated the rebounding margin 39-31, getting eight boards from Jalen Pitre, who also delivered critical defensive plays in the paint and closed the game at the line. That interior presence helped limit the Mocs to just six offensive rebounds—well below their season average.
Defensively, TSU frustrated Chattanooga all afternoon, holding the Mocs to 36.2 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers' discipline on the glass and in transition set the tone early, allowing only 10 second-chance points while collecting 30 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
Tennessee State came out firing, building a 34-25 lead before ripping off a 7-0 spurt capped by a Harris bucket to make it 41-25. The Tigers controlled the pace through the opening 20 minutes, using four offensive rebounds to create 10 second-chance points and heading into halftime up 42-33.
In the second half, the Tigers maintained their cushion and responded each time the Mocs made a push. TSU used a 5-0 run—finished by a Harris layup—to extend the advantage to 60-52 with 5:14 remaining. Chattanooga trimmed the margin to two in the final minute, but Nkrumah found Harper for an alley-oop finish, and Pitre calmly hit four free throws in the closing seconds to secure the win. TSU's ability to attack inside proved decisive, generating 16 of their 28 second-half points in the paint.
Game Notes
» The Tigers held the Mocs to only 36.2 percent shooting from the field.
» Tennessee State never trailed in the contest.
» TSU won the rebounding battle 39-31.
» Aaron Nkrumah and Travis Harper II shared game-high scoring honors with 17 points each.
» Jalen Pitre led the Tigers on the glass with eight rebounds, including clutch boards in the final minutes.
