NASHVILLE — Dante Harris scored 21 points and Tennessee State used a dominant second half on the glass and in transition to pull away from Lindenwood for an 89-80 Ohio Valley Conference victory Thursday night at the Gentry Center.

The Tigers (18-9, 12-5) had five players score in double figures, led by Harris, who added eight rebounds while shooting efficiently from the floor. Carlous Williams provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, including key baskets during a first-half rally, and Travis Harper II finished with 17 points and three steals. Jalen Pitre recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the Tigers' interior presence, while Tennessee State shot 50 percent from the field in the second half to break open a tight contest.

Tennessee State grabbed 42 rebounds in Thursday's game compared to Lindenwood's 36, led by Pitre's 13 boards. The Tigers were especially effective on the offensive glass, collecting 19 offensive rebounds and converting those extra possessions into 26 second-chance points that proved pivotal in a game that was tied at halftime.

Tennessee State forced 19 Lindenwood turnovers while committing 12 themselves. The Tigers turned those takeaways into 31 points on the offensive end, consistently converting live-ball turnovers into transition opportunities. Harper II's three steals led the way, and the Tigers applied pressure throughout, forcing 10 turnovers in the first half and nine more after intermission.

How It Happened

After falling behind 29-18, Tennessee State went on a 9-0 run with 10:48 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Williams, to narrow its deficit to 29-27. The Tigers continued to chip away, capitalizing on 10 Lindenwood turnovers and scoring 17 points off those miscues in the period to tie the game at 42-42 heading into halftime.

After intermission, the teams traded baskets in a tightly contested second half before Tennessee State grabbed an 82-80 lead. The Tigers then delivered the decisive blow with a 7-0 run, extending the advantage to 89-80 with five seconds remaining. Tennessee State capitalized on nine Lindenwood turnovers in the period, turning them into 14 points, and outscored the Lions 47-38 in the second half to secure the victory.

Game Notes
» Jalen Pitre notched a double-double for the Tigers with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
» Tennessee State outscored Lindenwood 47-38 in the second half after a halftime tie to pick up the victory.
» Five Tennessee State players scored 10 or more points.
» The Tigers turned 19 turnovers into 31 points on the offensive end.
» Tennessee State had a 42-36 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Tennessee State defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Tennessee State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 19 offensive boards in the game.
» Dante Harris led the Tigers with 21 points.
» Tennessee State got a game-high 13 rebounds from Jalen Pitre.