NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Aaron Nkrumah scored 30 points to lead Tennessee State to a 105-100 overtime victory over Morehead State in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Howard Gentry Complex. The Tigers, who improved to 11-6, needed a late surge to force overtime after the Eagles erased a 10-point halftime deficit. Tennessee State outscored Morehead State 19-14 in the extra period. George Marshall led Morehead State (8-10) with 29 points, and Jon Carroll added 22. Both teams shot efficiently, with Tennessee State hitting 59.4% from the field and Morehead State making 45.6%. The Tigers’ Antoine Lorick contributed 14 points and six blocks. Attendance was 567.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless offensive execution and a dramatic final-minute collapse, Aaron Nkrumah scored 30 points to lead Tennessee State to a 105-100 overtime victory over Morehead State in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball thriller on Thursday night. The game, played before an intimate crowd of 567 at the Howard Gentry Complex, saw the Tigers squander a late six-point lead in regulation before dominating the extra period to secure the Ohio Valley Conference win. Morehead State’s George Marshall, who finished with 29 points, sent the game to overtime with a clutch 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining in the second half, tying the score at 86. The Eagles had trailed 84-78 with under a minute to play, mounting a furious 8-2 run capped by Marshall’s deep shot from the wing. The comeback was short-lived. Tennessee State controlled the overtime tip and never trailed in the extra five minutes. The Tigers opened with a 3-pointer from Nkrumah and a dunk from Antoine Lorick to establish a five-point cushion they would not relinquish. The Eagles, who scored 14 points in overtime, could not string together enough stops against a Tennessee State offense that finished the night shooting 59.4% from the field and 61.1% from 3-point range. The most critical sequence came in the final 30 seconds of overtime with Tennessee State leading 103-100. Morehead State’s Davion Cunningham drove for a potential tying layup, but Lorick swatted it away for his sixth block of the night. Dante Harris collected the rebound and found Carlous Williams for a sealing dunk with 29 seconds left, effectively ending the Eagles’ hopes. Nkrumah, a 6-foot-6 guard from Worcester, Massachusetts, was the catalyst throughout, adding five assists in 41 minutes. His performance marked a significant bounce-back after being held to eight points in each of his previous two games. He was supported by a balanced Tigers attack featuring Williams with 19 points, Travis Harper with 16 and Lorick with 14 points and six blocks. For Morehead State, Marshall’s 29 points and four assists were complemented by 22 points from Jon Carroll and 17 from Chase Dawson. Cunningham facilitated the offense with 15 points and six assists. The Eagles shot well from the free-throw line, making 29 of 34 attempts, but were ultimately undone by Tennessee State’s superior efficiency. The Tigers scored 105 points on just 76 possessions, an offensive rating of 137.5. Tennessee State led 46-36 at halftime, but the Eagles chipped away in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 50-40 behind Marshall’s 19 points after the break. The game featured 12 ties and 11 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. With the victory, Tennessee State improved to 11-6 overall. Morehead State fell to 8-10. The Tigers, who were installed as 7.5-point favorites, next host Southern Indiana on Saturday. The Eagles travel to face Tennessee Tech the same day. The total points scored, 205, sailed over the pregame over/under line of 148.5. National Statistical’s ELO system had given Tennessee State an 80.7% probability to win.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Tennessee State looks to protect its home court against a Morehead State team coming off a dramatic win when the Ohio Valley Conference rivals meet Thursday night at the Howard Gentry Complex. The Tigers (10-6, 2-1 OVC) have won six of their last eight games and are off to a solid start in league play. They aim to bounce back from a 74-70 road loss at Eastern Illinois on Saturday. In that game, guard Khalil London erupted for a season-high 23 points. London has provided a scoring spark off the bench, averaging 15.0 points over his last two contests. Forward Travis Harper, who scored 18 points against Eastern Illinois, is a consistent interior presence. The visiting Eagles (8-9, 2-1) are seeking consistency after a narrow 71-69 home victory over Southeast Missouri State last Saturday. That win was fueled by a career performance from guard Davion Cunningham, who poured in 35 points. Cunningham leads Morehead State’s offensive efforts, having scored in double figures in five of his last six games, including a 30-point outing earlier this month. Tennessee State holds a distinct advantage in the early season standings and boasts a notable non-conference road win at UNLV. Morehead State has struggled away from home, posting a 2-6 record in true road games this season. The Eagles will rely heavily on Cunningham’s hot hand to challenge a Tigers defense that allows an average of 72.1 points per game. This matchup is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They will meet again in Morehead, Kentucky, on Feb. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST Thursday.