NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee State made sure its home opener was one to remember.
The Tigers put together a dominant offensive performance Thursday night, overwhelming East-West University 127-61 at the Gentry Center to earn their first home victory of the 2026-27 men’s basketball season.
Six Tigers scored in double figures, led by Jayden Jones, who finished with 17 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Tennessee State improved to 1-1 on the season while handing East-West a season-opening defeat.
The Tigers wasted little time establishing control, taking a 54-28 advantage into halftime before turning up the pressure in the second half.
Tennessee State poured in 73 second-half points, including 48 in the paint, to put the game well out of reach.
Six Tigers Reach Double Figures
Jones led the way with 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks in just 18 minutes of action.
Arterio Morris and Ajayi Simmons each contributed 14 points. Morris added five assists and three steals, while Simmons provided an efficient performance off the bench, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds in 13 minutes.
Aaron Bradshaw recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, while adding four blocks.
Deondrea Lindsey chipped in 12 points, and Maddux Bodenhamer finished with 10 points and five assists.
The Tigers received significant production from their reserves, with the bench accounting for 63 points.
Tigers Take Control With Big Runs
East-West briefly tied the game at 14 with 10:18 remaining in the first half. However, Lindsey responded with a three-point play, igniting a 21-0 Tennessee State run.
Morris capped the scoring stretch with a basket that extended the Tigers’ advantage to 35-14 with 6:07 remaining before halftime.
Tennessee State carried a commanding 54-28 lead into the break after scoring 34 points in the paint during the opening half.
The Tigers continued their offensive assault after halftime, putting together another decisive run.
A 17-0 scoring stretch pushed Tennessee State’s lead to 75-32 following a layup by Kavien Jones with 13:38 remaining.
East-West had no answer for the Tigers’ interior attack as Tennessee State continued to pile on points.
Tennessee State Dominates the Numbers
The final box score reflected just how thoroughly the Tigers controlled the contest.
Tennessee State shot 53.2% from the field, connecting on 50 of 94 attempts. The Tigers also controlled the glass, outrebounding East-West 58-35.
Defensively, TSU forced 25 turnovers and converted them into 37 points. The Tigers also recorded 17 steals and 12 blocked shots while holding East-West to 35.3% shooting.
One of the biggest differences came on the offensive glass. Tennessee State collected 26 offensive rebounds and turned those opportunities into 43 second-chance points.
Final Score
61
EWU
127
Winner TSU
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWU | 28 | 33 | 61 |
| TSU | 54 | 73 | 127 |
Tennessee State Leading Scorers
- Jayden Jones: 17 points, 6 rebounds
- Arterio Morris: 14 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
- Ajayi Simmons: 14 points, 9 rebounds
- Aaron Bradshaw: 13 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks
- Deondrea Lindsey: 12 points
- Maddux Bodenhamer: 10 points, 5 assists
What’s Next for the Tigers?
Tennessee State will look to carry its offensive momentum into its next matchup when the Tigers host Fisk University on Monday, November 9.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at the Gentry Center.
After a 127-point performance in front of the home crowd, Tennessee State has given its fans an early glimpse of what this year’s squad can bring to the floor.
