Tennessee St defeats Little Rock 79-84
Thrilling Conference Showdown: Tennessee St Edges Little Rock 84-79
In a back-and-forth affair that had fans on the edge of their seats, visiting Tennessee St (AWAY) emerged victorious over host Little Rock (HOME), 84-79, in a crucial conference matchup. The win propels Tennessee St forward in the conference standings, while Little Rock falls just shy of a much-needed upset.
The first half was a closely contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a clear advantage. At halftime, away team Tennessee St led 32-33. As the game wore on, the tension mounted, and both squads began to find their groove.
In the second half, Tennessee St took control, outscoring Little Rock by five points. The away team's superior shooting percentages proved decisive, with Tennessee St converting 49.3% of its field goal attempts compared to Little Rock's 44.0%.
Aaron Nkrumah led all scorers for Tennessee St with 22 points, complemented by nine rebounds and five assists. Antoine Lorick III chipped in with eleven points and nine boards.
For the home team, Johnathan Lawson paced Little Rock with a game-high 20 points, supported by eight rebounds and four assists. Kachi Nzeh added sixteen points, eight rebounds, and one steal off the bench.
The turning point came midway through the second half when Tennessee St began to pull away, outscoring Little Rock by ten points in the final six minutes of play. The home team refused to go quietly into the night, however, as Lawson led a late rally that narrowed the deficit to just five points with under two minutes remaining.
Despite a valiant effort, Little Rock was unable to overcome the deficit, and Tennessee St secured the win. The victory represents a significant milestone for the away team in the conference standings, while Little Rock falls just shy of upping its home record.
The game's outcome is all the more impressive considering the stakes: a crucial conference matchup that could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.
Game Summary
* Field Goals: Tennessee St (46.0%), Little Rock (44.0%)
* 2-Point FG: Tennessee St (51.0%), Little Rock (48.8%)
* 3-Point FG: Tennessee St (29.0%), Little Rock (33.0%)
* Free Throws: Tennessee St (81.0%), Little Rock (72.0%)
* Rebounds: Tennessee St (40), Little Rock (39)
* Assists: Tennessee St (12), Little Rock (14)
* Turnovers: Tennessee St (11), Little Rock (14)
The win propels Tennessee St forward in the conference standings, while Little Rock falls just shy of a much-needed upset.