ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Tennessee State's return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994 came against one of the nation's top teams, as No. 15 seed TSU fell to No. 2 seed Iowa State, 108-74, on Friday at Enterprise Center. The Tigers (23-10) were led by Aaron Nkrumah's 21 points and Antoine Lorick III's 20, but Iowa State's efficiency, depth and a decisive first-half run proved too much to overcome in the Midwest Region first-round matchup.
Nkrumah and Lorick III's stellar scoring performances led the Tigers (23-10) in the contest. Nkrumah tacked on six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks and Lorick III added eight rebounds and three blocks. Travis Harper II also helped out with 13 points and three steals, while Dante Harris added 11 points and four assists as four Tigers reached double figures.
Led by Lorick III's five offensive rebounds, Tennessee State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in 15 second chance points. The Tigers also produced 40 points in the paint and converted Iowa State turnovers into 23 points, showing consistent offensive pressure despite facing a high-powered Cyclones offense.
Tennessee State did a great job disrupting Iowa State shots in the contest, coming away with nine blocks. Nkrumah and Lorick III combined for six of those rejections, highlighting the Tigers' interior defensive presence throughout the game.
Iowa State shot 52.8 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range, placing constant pressure on the Tigers' defense. The Cyclones also held a 43-29 advantage on the glass and scored 50 bench points, using their depth to maintain control for much of the contest.
How It Happened
Tennessee State briefly took an early 1-0 lead before Iowa State responded with a dominant first-half surge, using a 23-0 run to build separation. The Cyclones shot 57.1 percent in the opening half and carried a 55-29 lead into the break.
Tennessee State showed resilience in the second half, scoring 45 points and continuing to attack the paint while forcing turnovers and generating transition opportunities. However, Iowa State maintained its advantage behind efficient shooting and balanced scoring, extending the margin en route to the 108-74 final.
Game Notes
» The Tigers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying nine blocks as a team.
» Tennessee State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Aaron Nkrumah led the Tigers with 21 points and Antoine Lorick III added 20.
» Tennessee State got eight rebounds from both Antoine Lorick III and Jalen Pitre.
