NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Aaron Nkrumah recorded his second consecutive double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Tennessee State Tigers defeated SIU-Edwardsville 80-53 Saturday at the Gentry Center, extending their winning record to 19-9 overall and 13-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Nkrumah’s performance led a balanced Tennessee State attack that saw three players score in double figures. Antoine Lorick III contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks, while Travis Harper II added 12 points for the Tigers. Tennessee State shot 49 percent from the field, dominating SIU-Edwardsville, which managed only 32 percent shooting.
The Tigers established control early, going on a 7-0 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead. They entered halftime with a 40-26 advantage, capitalizing on 11 SIU-Edwardsville turnovers that resulted in 11 points. Tennessee State continued to extend its lead after the break, pushing the margin to 62-30 with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.
Tennessee State’s offensive efficiency included eight three-pointers on 19 attempts, a 42.1 percent success rate. Nkrumah contributed two of those three-pointers, while the team’s overall perimeter shooting stretched the Cougars’ defense and created opportunities for drives to the basket. The Tigers also controlled the boards, outrebounding SIU-Edwardsville 37-21, limiting the Cougars’ second-chance points.
The Tigers’ defense forced 15 turnovers from SIU-Edwardsville, converting those takeaways into 19 points. Dante Harris led the team with four steals, contributing to the pressure that held the Cougars to just 27 points in the second half. Darrion Baker led SIU-Edwardsville with 17 points.
Elsewhere in the Ohio Valley Conference, Southeast Missouri defeated Little Rock 70-65, securing their eighth road win of the season and moving into a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Tennessee State and Morehead State. Luke Almodovar led the Redhawks with 13 points, while Kachi Nzeh scored a game-high 16 points for Little Rock.
Tennessee Tech also secured a victory, defeating Lindenwood 72-57, fueled by a career-high 16 points from Ty Owens. Southern Indiana edged Eastern Illinois 70-68 after a game-winning three-pointer from Ismail Habib with one second remaining. Morehead State completed a dominant performance, defeating Western Illinois 81-59, with Jon Carroll leading the Eagles with 17 points.
