Tennessee State Ends 30-Year Wait, Dominates Morehead State for 2026 OVC Title

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After more than three decades of waiting, Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball is back on top of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Tennessee State delivered a statement performance Saturday night, rolling past Morehead State Eagles men’s basketball 93–67 at Ford Center to capture the 2026 OVC Men’s Basketball Tournament championship and punch its ticket to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Tigers (23–9) overwhelmed Morehead State with a barrage of three-pointers and a dominant presence on the glass, controlling the game from the first half and never looking back.

Guard Antoine Lorick III led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points and two blocks, while Travis Harper II added 17 points. Off the bench, Carlous Williams chipped in 16 points to help fuel the rout.

Tournament MVP Dante Harris delivered a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, anchoring Tennessee State’s dominance on the boards. Aaron Nkrumah added 11 points and six assists in the win.

Tennessee State controlled the rebounding battle 44–29, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. Defensively, the Tigers locked down Morehead State, holding the Eagles to just 36.2% shooting from the field and 30% from beyond the arc.

The game turned early.

After the teams were tied 7–7, Tennessee State ripped off a 13–0 run midway through the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Nkrumah that pushed the Tigers ahead 20–7. The momentum never shifted back.

By halftime, Tennessee State had already built a commanding 55–34 lead behind a scorching perimeter attack. The Tigers knocked down 12 three-pointers in the opening half alone, accounting for 36 of their points.

The second half was more of the same.

Tennessee State pushed its lead to as much as 28 points late in the game, highlighted by a three from Jc Brooks that made it 93–65 with just over a minute remaining. The Tigers’ bench added key production down the stretch, scoring 15 points in the final period.

Morehead State struggled to keep pace offensively and managed just eight offensive rebounds while producing nine second-chance points.

With the victory, Tennessee State captures its first OVC Tournament title since 1994 and secures the conference’s automatic bid to March Madness.

2026 OVC All-Tournament Team

• Dante Harris, Tennessee State — MVP

• Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State

• Travis Harper II, Tennessee State

• George Marshall, Morehead State

• Braxton Stacker, Southeast Missouri