TSU Men’s Basketball: Tied for OVC Lead, Faces SEMO & UT Martin | NCAA Tournament Watch

Redhawks and Tigers Clash in Pivotal OVC Matchup

Southeast Missouri (SEMO) and Tennessee State (TSU) face off on Thursday in a crucial Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) contest with significant implications for the regular season championship. Both teams enter the game tied with Morehead State for first place in the OVC standings, making this a pivotal matchup as the regular season nears its conclusion. The game will be played at the Show Me Center, where SEMO aims to secure at least a top-two seed and a double bye in the upcoming OVC Tournament.

Tennessee State is currently experiencing a resurgence, holding a February first-place position in the OVC for the first time in over 30 years. The last time the Tigers held such a position was during the 1994-95 season, ultimately leading to a co-OVC regular-season championship. The program’s only outright OVC regular-season title came in 1992-93, a year that also saw Tennessee State win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

The all-time series between SEMO and TSU is closely contested, with the Redhawks holding a slight 32-31 advantage. SEMO has had recent success against the Tigers, winning eight of the last eleven meetings. Tennessee State has historically struggled at the Show Me Center, losing four of their last five visits. Their last encounter took place on December 20, 2025, in Nashville, where Southeast Missouri emerged victorious with a 91-82 win. In that game, Travis Harper II led Tennessee State with 23 points, while Antoine Lorick III contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Aaron Nkrumah added 15 points.

Southeast Missouri is riding a wave of momentum, having won nine of their last ten games, including a recent three-game winning streak against Lindenwood, UT Martin, and Little Rock – all on the road. This marks the fourth time this season the Redhawks have achieved a winning streak of three or more games, with a previous streak reaching six games earlier in the season. At 18-11 overall and 13-5 in conference play, the Redhawks are poised to achieve their second consecutive winning season.

A repeat performance for SEMO would be historic, potentially making Head Coach Brad Korn the first coach in program history to win back-to-back OVC regular-season championships. Last year, the Redhawks finished with a 21-12 overall record and a 15-5 conference mark, claiming the OVC regular-season title and earning the #1 seed in the tournament.

The game also carries a subtle historical resonance, as the recent severe ice storm in Nashville drew comparisons to a similar event in February 1994, when temperatures plummeted dramatically. Notably, 1994 was also the last year Tennessee State reached the NCAA Tournament.

Recent standout performances for Tennessee State include Aaron Nkrumah’s impressive stat line in a recent game, where he recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists on efficient shooting (11-of-15 from the field). Dante Harris also contributed significantly with 9 assists and 4 steals, while Travis Harper II added 12 points. Antoine Lorick III scored 15 points on efficient shooting, going 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. The team demonstrated strong offensive efficiency, shooting 57.4% from the field (31 of 54) and scoring 38 points in the paint.

Brad Korn boasts a 9-3 record against Tennessee State as Southeast Missouri’s head coach, adding another layer of competitive history to this important conference matchup.