TSU Extends Winning Streak to Four with 73-60 Win at EKU

BOX SCORE  |  RADIO CALLS

Final Score: Tennessee State 73 - Eastern Kentucky 60
Records: TSU (12-11, 7-5 OVC) – EKU (8-17, 2-10 OVC)
Venue: McBrayer Arena
Location: Richmond, Ky.
Attendance: 1,680

RICHMOND, Kentucky --- The Tennessee State men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games thanks to a 73-60 road win at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday night at McBrayer Arena in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Tigers (12-11, 7-5 OVC) shot 50 percent (24-of-48) from the floor and finished with a 36-25 rebounding edge. TSU scored the final four points of the first half to take a 32-28 halftime edge. In the second half, the Tigers outscored the Colonels (8-17, 2-10 OVC) by a 41-32 margin to pull away.

Delano Spencer scored a team-high 20 points, tying a career high with six made three-pointers, while Christian Mekowulu added 19 points and five rebounds. Picking up his first double-double of the season and second of his career was Darreon Reddick with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU LEADERS
  • POINTS – Delano Spencer - 20
  • REBOUNDS – Darreon Reddick - 11
  • ASSISTS – Ken’Darrius Hamilton and Darreon Reddick - 4
• Christian Mekowulu scored in double figures for the 15th time this season (28th in career).
• Delano Spencer reached double-digit points for the 20th time on the year (31st in career).
• Darreon Reddick scored in double figures for the 11th time this season (41st in career).
• It was Reddick’s second career double-double and first this season.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

• There were three ties and three lead changes in the opening 12 minutes.
• Christian Mekowulu scored five points in a row to level the scoring at 19-19 with just under eight minutes to go in the half.
• After TSU fell behind by as many as five points, a three from Darreon Reddick tied up the score at 28-28 with two minutes left in the first half.
• The Tigers closed the half with six-consecutive stops on the defensive end and four points from Mekowulu to take a 32-28 halftime edge.
• Armani Chaney broke the full-court pressure and went coast-to-coast for a layup to cap a 12-4 run to open the second half to stretch TSU’s lead up to 44-32.
• Delano Spencer’s sixth three-pointer of the night put the Tigers up 57-46 with 7:46 to go.
• TSU led by 10 or more points throughout the final four minutes. 

 GAME NOTES

• Tennessee State’s record in the all-time series versus Eastern Kentucky is 29-33.
• TSU has won four in a row over the Colonels.
• The Tigers are 9-2 when leading or tied at the half this season.

 QUOTES

Senior Guard Delano Spencer

“It’s definitely important just to keep the streak going, getting the guys together and staying locked in down the stretch in February. Getting these road wins, it’s very important. I’m proud of the guys. We stuck together to get it done.”
- On winning four in a row

“My teammates kept me involved in the game even when I went to the bench. We all stayed into the game and locked in. They did a great job of finding me off a lot of screens. The guys set a lot of good screens for me to get open and they found me in my spots. I stepped up and knocked the shots down 
- On overcoming early foul trouble

Head Coach Dana Ford

“I thought we played better tonight. We definitely played better in the second half offensively than we’ve played in a long time. Obviously, Delano Spencer made some shots that really helped, but I thought we moved the ball – we had 15 assists. We’re capable of that. We didn’t turn it over in the second half. In the first half, that was the deal, we turned the ball over, and you have to give them credit. They came out and played really hard. They’re really shorthanded, but they do play really hard.”
- On getting the road win

“We were better. Again, we took care of the ball. I think we ran a little more plays in the second half, so guys knew where they were supposed to go, and the right guys got the ball. I thought we had an edge to us in the second half. Our guys know what’s at stake; we’re just trying to continue to move up the rankings.”
- On the improved second half

 UP NEXT

• TSU hosts Belmont at the Gentry Center on Thursday, Feb. 8.
• The 7:30 p.m. game will air live on the OVC Digital Network and can be heard on the radio on 102.1 The Ville.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS