SE Missouri defeats Tennessee St 82-91
SE Missouri Stuns Tennessee St 91-82 in Conference Showdown
The Gentry Center was the stage for a thrilling conference matchup between SE Missouri and Tennessee State, with the visiting Lions emerging victorious 91-82 on Saturday evening.
As the home team, Tennessee State (HOME) had the early advantage, leading by four points at halftime. However, it was the away team, SE Missouri, that took control of the game in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 47-37 to build a nine-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.
SE Missouri's Marqueas Bell was the star of the show, converting 88.9% of his field goal attempts and grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with 22 points and three assists. The junior guard's dominance was a key factor in the Lions' victory, as he outscored Tennessee State's leading scorer, Travis Harper II.
For Tennessee State (HOME), Harper II led the way with 23 points, including five three-pointers. Antoine Lorick III added 19 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome SE Missouri's relentless attack.
The advanced statistics told a similar story. SE Missouri's true shooting percentage of 70.3% was significantly higher than Tennessee State's 54.8%, while the Lions' eFG% of 66.3 was also more efficient than the Tigers'. The visiting team's ability to control the glass and limit turnovers also gave them an edge, with a 23.1% OREB percentage compared to Tennessee State's 32.1%.
Despite trailing by four points at halftime, SE Missouri's coaching staff made the strategic decision to stick with their game plan and adjust as needed. The result was a convincing win that could be a turning point in the season for the Lions.
The conference matchup between these two teams will likely have significant implications for the standings, especially if SE Missouri can continue its winning ways. With this victory, the Lions moved one step closer to securing a spot in the postseason tournament.
The Gentry Center will no longer remember the 82 points it witnessed from Tennessee State on Saturday night, as SE Missouri's 91-point performance stole the show.