NASHVILLE – Aaron Nkrumah poured in a game-high 22 points and Tennessee State closed on an 11-0 run to rally past Little Rock 70-63 in Ohio Valley Conference action Thursday night at the Gentry Center.

The Tigers (14-7, 8-3) had four players score in double figures, led by Nkrumah, who finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals in an all-around performance. Travis Harper II added 16 points and eight rebounds, including a pair of late baskets that helped swing the momentum, while Carlous Williams provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Jalen Pitre chipped in nine rebounds to pace Tennessee State on the glass.

Tennessee State shared the ball well in Thursday's game, racking up 17 assists on 25 made field goals and shooting 48.1 percent from the floor. Nkrumah and Dante Harris each handed out six assists as the Tigers consistently found scoring opportunities in transition and the paint.

Defensively, Tennessee State forced 13 Little Rock turnovers and turned those takeaways into 13 points. The Tigers also held the Trojans to 35.8 percent shooting, including 26.9 percent from three-point range. Nkrumah's five steals anchored an active defensive effort that fueled Tennessee State's late surge.

How It Happened

After playing to a 9-9 tie early, Tennessee State went on a 5-0 run with 13:22 left in the first half, capped by a bucket from Williams, to take a 14-9 lead. Little Rock answered with a strong stretch of its own, using second-chance points to regain control and carry a 35-30 advantage into halftime.

Little Rock continued to build its lead after intermission, pushing ahead by as many as 10 points and taking a 63-57 advantage late. Tennessee State responded with its best stretch of the night, ripping off an 11-0 run over the final two minutes to seize a 68-63 lead with 14 seconds remaining. Harper II scored five of those points, while Nkrumah iced the game at the free-throw line as the Tigers closed out the 70-63 victory. Tennessee State finished the second half with 20 fast-break points.

Game Notes
» The Tigers held the Trojans to 35.8 percent shooting from the field.
» Tennessee State tallied 17 total assists in the game.
» The Tennessee State defense forced 13 turnovers.
» Aaron Nkrumah led the Tigers with a game-high 22 points.
» Tennessee State got a team-high nine rebounds from Jalen Pitre.