HENDERSON, Nev. –The Tennessee State men's basketball team defeated UNLV 63-60 on Saturday evening at Lee's Family Forum in the Jack Jones Classic.
The Tigers (6-4) had three players score in double figures, led by Aaron Nkrumah, who had 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Travis Harper II added 12 points and two steals while knocking down a pair of key shots in the second half, and Carlous Williams helped out with 10 points from the bench, providing energy and physicality in the paint.
Led by Jalen Pitre's four offensive rebounds, Tennessee State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 16 second chance points. The Tigers consistently extended possessions and capitalized on extra opportunities, scoring timely baskets that helped swing momentum in the second half.
Tennessee State's defense held UNLV to only 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 37.3 percent from the field. The Tigers were active defensively all night, forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into 15 points while limiting the Rebels to just 27 points after halftime.
How It Happened
After falling behind 29-20, Tennessee State went on a 7-0 run with 3:56 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Travis Harper II, to narrow its deficit to 29-27. The Tigers leaned on their defense and offensive rebounding to close the gap, creating multiple second-chance opportunities. UNLV answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Tigers down 33-29 entering halftime.
UNLV kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 36-31 advantage before Tennessee State went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Nkrumah's three, to seize a 38-36 lead with 15:43 to go in the contest. Tennessee State continued to apply pressure on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and getting key contributions from its bench. The Tigers withstood several UNLV rallies down the stretch and made the necessary defensive stops late to secure the 63-60 win. Tennessee State took care of business in the paint, recording 20 of its 34 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» The Tigers held the Rebels to only 37.3 percent shooting from the field.
» Tennessee State had a stellar day defensively, holding UNLV to 20 percent from three point land on 15 attempts.
» The Tennessee State bench made an impact by adding 22 points to its scoring output.
» Tennessee State had a 39-36 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Tennessee State defense forced 18 turnovers.
» Tennessee State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» Tennessee State scored 16 second chance points.
» The Tigers outscored UNLV 34-27 in the second half.
» Aaron Nkrumah and Travis Harper II led the Tigers with 12 points apiece.
» Tennessee State got a team-high eight rebounds from Aaron Nkrumah.
