image via TSU Basketball
OPENING TIP: The Tennessee State men’s basketball team has reached the OVC semifinals for the first time since the 2012-13 seasonwaaaā and will face No. 2 seed SIUE on Friday evening.
The Matchup:
Tennessee State vs. SIUE Cougars
Date/Time: Friday, March 7 at 9:30 PM CT
Location: Ford Center || Evansville, Ind.
TV: ESPNU
SERIES INFORMATION VS. SIUE: Tennessee State holds a 14-8 all-time record against SIUE but was swept by the Cougars in the regular season.
TSU IN THE OVC’S: The Tigers enter the tournament with a 16-30 mark since making their first appearance in the 1988 tournament held in Murray, Kentucky. It took five more seasons for the Tigers to win their first conference tournament game in 1993, the same season they won the OVC Championship. The following season, 1994, TSU claimed its second straight OVC crown. Since then (28 years), TSU has been the top seed once (1995), second seed twice (1996, 2012), third seed once (2025) and fourth seed three times (2013, 2016, 2023).
MILLENNIUM MADNESS: With the win over Lindenwood, TSU advances to the OVC semifinals for the fourth time this century, holding a 2-1 record in those appearances. The Tigers are 0-2 in the OVC championship game in the 21st century.
TSU IN THE OVC SEMIFINALS:
1993 — TENNESSEE TECH W, 77-70
1994 —TENNESSEE TECH W, 91-74
1995 — AUSTIN PEAY L, 81-76
1996 — AUSTIN PEAY L, 83-62
1998 — MTSU W, 74-70
2008 — MURRAY STATE W, 83-75
2012 —MOREHEAD STATE W, 59-52
2013 — BELMONT L, 82-73
LINDENWOOD BY THE NUMBERS:
4: Four Tigers scored at least nine points, led by Carlous Williams with 15 on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting. Aaron Nkrumah added 14, hitting four three-pointers.
6: The Tigers recorded six steals and six blocks, with Justus Jackson and Nkrumah each grabbing two steals. The defense helped limit Lindenwood’s scoring opportunities and sealed the victory.
34: TSU outscored Lindenwood 34-18 in the paint, capitalizing on high-percentage shots and strong inside play from Josh Ogundele (8 points, 8 rebounds) and Ronald Jessamy (6 points, 7 rebounds).
41: TSU controlled the boards with a 41-30 rebounding advantage, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.
51.9%: The Tigers shot 51.9% (14-of-27) from the field in the second half, including 62.5% (5-of-8) from beyond the arc, helping them pull away for the win.
