Category: Sports

Tennessee State Is Back — But Now Comes the Hard Part

Brandon King

Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball is back. Conference champions. NCAA Tournament team. A program resurrected after decades in the wilderness. For years, Tennessee State basketball lived on the margins—far removed from the national conversation since the 1994–95 season. That changed this year. Not just because the Tigers won, but because they mattered again. Picked to finish fourth in the preseason OVC poll, Tennessee State exceeded every expectation. The Tigers captured both the regular season and conference tournament championships, finishing 23–9 overall and 15–5 in league play—a program high for conference…

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What’s Next for Tennessee State After Its March Madness Return?

Brandon King

Tennessee State’s season ended with a tough loss, but the bigger picture tells a far more important story: the Tigers are back in the business of winning basketball. Now comes the hard part — staying there. The gap between Tennessee State and a program like Iowa State was clear. Size, depth, and physicality all tilted heavily in favor of the Cyclones, underscoring just how much work remains for the Tigers to become not just a tournament team, but a competitive one. Addressing the Frontcourt If Tennessee State is serious about…

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Tennessee State’s Historic Run Ends in Blowout Loss to Iowa State

Brandon King

Tennessee State’s long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament proved to be a harsh reality check. Back in the Big Dance for the first time in 32 years, the Tigers were overwhelmed by Iowa State in a 108-74 loss that brought their historic season to a close. From the outset, the Cyclones imposed their will with size, strength, and relentless pressure on both ends of the floor. Iowa State dominated the glass 43-29 and stifled Tennessee State from beyond the arc, holding the Tigers to just 23.8% (5-of-21) from three-point range.…

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Prairie View, Southern Crash the Party as Tennessee State Holds No. 1 in Week 11 HBCU Top 5

Brandon King

March basketball brought chaos—and opportunity—to the HBCU landscape. Conference tournament play reshaped Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Men’s Major Division Top 5 in Week 11, as Prairie View A&M and Southern surged into the rankings behind deep SWAC Tournament runs. While new contenders emerged, the top of the mountain remained unchanged, with Tennessee State continuing its reign as the nation’s top HBCU program heading into the NCAA Tournament. 5. Southern Jaguars (17–17, 11–7) The Jaguars re-enter the rankings after being unranked a week ago, thanks to a strong…

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HBCU History in March Madness: Moments That Changed the Game

Brandon King

With the Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball team preparing to take the court in the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the program adds another chapter to the proud legacy of HBCU basketball on college hoops’ biggest stage. Historically Black colleges and universities have long delivered unforgettable moments in the NCAA Tournament—proving time and again that programs outside the traditional power structure can compete, and win, in March Madness. Here’s a look at some of the most defining moments in HBCU tournament history. Texas Western’s Championship Changed College Basketball…

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Bison Break Through: Howard Survives UMBC Rally in First Four Thriller

Brandon King

Image via WTOP News The Howard Bison held off a furious late rally from UMBC to secure an 86-83 victory in the NCAA First Four, marking the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. UMBC jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, but Howard responded with a 9-0 run to take control early. The Retrievers tied the game at 11 following a three-pointer from DJ Armstrong at the 14:35 mark, but the Bison answered with an 8-0 spurt to go up 19-11. UMBC continued to chip away, cutting the deficit to 31-30…

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North Carolina Central Moves On From Women’s Basketball Head Coach Terrence Baxter

Brandon King

North Carolina Central University has announced a leadership change in its women’s basketball program, signaling a new direction for the Eagles moving forward. Head coach Terrence Baxter will not be retained after three seasons at the helm. “We are thankful to Coach Baxter for his service, leadership, and commitment to North Carolina Central University and our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Louis “Skip” Perkins. “We appreciate his contributions to our women’s basketball program and wish him continued success in the future.” Baxter’s final season came in 2025–26, where the Eagles…

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Tennessee State vs Iowa State: NCAA Tournament Preview

Brandon King

The Tennessee State Tigers will look to defy the odds when they take on No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Pulling off the upset won’t be easy—but if TSU can execute in a few key areas, the Tigers could put themselves in position to shock the bracket. 5 Keys For Tennessee State To Pull The Upset 1. Aaron Nkrumah must set the tone early OVC Player of the Year Aaron Nkrumah is the engine of…

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Tennessee State Tigers earn No. 15 seed, set to face Iowa State in NCAA Tournament

Brandon King

The Tennessee State Tigers became the first team to punch its ticket to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 7 after capturing the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament championship. On Selection Sunday>, it was revealed that Tennessee State earned the No. 15 seed in the Midwest Region and will take on the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball, the region’s No. 2 seed, in St. Louis on Friday, March 20. The 2025–26 season has been a historic campaign for Tennessee State basketball. Under first-year head coach…

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Winston-Salem State Lady Rams defeat Gannon 67-48 to advance to Atlantic Region Championship game

Staff

Image via Apollo Barron Courtesy of WWSU Athletics 67 Winner Winston-Salem 28-3,14-2 CIAA 48 Gannon 29-5,18-2 PSAC Team 1 2 3 4 F Winston-Salem 23  20  14  10  67 Gannon 15  13  9  11  48 Indiana, P.A.-  The Winston-Salem State University women’s basketball team defeats Gannon University 67-48, inside the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.  The Rams improved to 28-3 (14-2 CIAA, 8-2 South) on the season. Maia Charles led the Rams with 19 points, followed by both Makayla Waleed and Jakaiya Mack chipping in with 10 points each.  Quick Inside the NumbersThe Rams went 23-of-53 from the field,…

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