By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee State Tigers delivered their best offensive performance of the young season Saturday, blowing out Boyce College 117-59 at Gentry Center.
Head Coach Penny Collins had expressed his concerns about shot selection and court judgement in their previous losses to Liberty and Lipscomb.
But against Boyce, the Tigers were dominant on both sides of the ball. They shot 62 percent from the field and 54 from three-point range, while holding Boyce to 37 percent and forcing 16 turnovers, good for 27 points.
With leading scorer Christian Brown out with an injury, the Tigers got an enormous lift from Michael Shanks. The Belmont transfer came into the game averaging four points. He led all scorers with 31, including seven three-pointers. Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. added 16, as six Tigers scored in double figures, including the entire starting five. Shanks and David Acosta helped TSU control both boards with seven rebounds each.
The Tigers outrebounded Boyce 48-26. They never trailed, and at one point were ahead 100-50. The Tigers improved their season record to 7-5. They completed the nonconference portion of their schedule Tuesday night on the road at Indiana State.
The Tigers’ first two Ohio Valley Conference games are at home. They face UT Martin on December 28, then Little Rock on December 30.
The women’s team got 37 points from its bench, but a late rally fell short as the Tigers lost 79-69 to Eastern Kentucky last Friday at the Gentry Center.
Jordan Aikens led TSU with 15, while Zyion Shannon and Eboni Williams had 11 each. TSU forced 17 EKU turnovers, good for 20 points.
Their next game is Thursday against Tennessee Southern at the Gentry Center.
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