NASHVILLE – Aaron Nkrumah scored 21 points, but the Tennessee State men's basketball team fell to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 90-85 at the Gentry Center on Monday night.
Nkrumah added seven rebounds and two steals to lead the Tigers (14-8, 8-4), who placed four players in double figures. Travis Harper II finished with 19 points, while Dante Harris added 16 points and five assists. Tennessee State shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half and erased a double-digit deficit before coming up just short.
Tennessee Tech (9-14, 4-8) leaned on scorching perimeter shooting to build its lead, finishing the night 15-of-24 (62.5 percent) from three-point range. The Golden Eagles knocked down eight triples in the first half alone and answered multiple Tennessee State runs with timely baskets from beyond the arc.
Tennessee State collected 39 rebounds compared to Tennessee Tech's 29 and generated 20 second-chance points off 19 offensive rebounds. The Tigers also controlled the paint, scoring 44 points inside, but could not offset Tennessee Tech's efficiency from long range.
Defensively, Tennessee State disrupted shots throughout the night, recording eight blocks. Antoine Lorick III led the Tigers with three rejections.
How It Happened
Tennessee State struggled out of the gate, falling behind 46-31 at halftime as Tennessee Tech shot 57.7 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three in the opening period.
The Tigers came out aggressive in the second half, shooting better than 55 percent and repeatedly attacking the rim to chip away at the deficit. Tennessee State trimmed the margin to 84-71 before erupting on a 12-0 run, capped by Nkrumah's layup, to pull within one at 84-83 with 2:07 remaining.
Tennessee Tech steadied itself down the stretch, knocking down a key three-pointer and converting at the free-throw line to halt the comeback and secure the 90-85 final. Tennessee State finished the second half with 54 points after scoring 31 before the break.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State outscored Tennessee Tech 54-44 in the second half.
» The Tigers erased a 20-point deficit and cut the game to one possession in the final three minutes.
» Tennessee Tech shot 62.5 percent from three-point range (15-of-24).
» Tennessee State lost despite a 39-29 rebounding advantage.
» The Tigers recorded eight blocks and collected 19 offensive rebounds.
» Aaron Nkrumah led Tennessee State with 21 points and seven rebounds.
