Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore Nick Mayo poured in a game-high 24 points, but the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team suffered a narrow 68-66 defeat at Tennessee State on Saturday night at the Gentry Center.
 
EKU battled back from as many as 15 points down to tie it up, 57-57, on a put-back by junior Zach Charles with 2:25 remaining in the game. On TSU's next possession, however, Tajhere McCall completed a three-point play to put the Tigers back up by three.
 
Freshman Asante Gist attempted to match McCall on the opposite end, but his three-pointer was off the mark. TSU went 7-of-9 from the free throw line in the final 1:23 to seal the win.
 
Mayo connected on a career-high five three-pointers to finish with 24 points, 19 of which came in the second half. He also had seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
Junior Dillon Avare also knocked down five three-pointers to score 15 points, while Gist contributed 12 points and three assists.
 
As a team, EKU delivered its best three-point shooting game of the season, connecting on 55 percent (12-of-22) of its long-range shots.
 
EKU (10-19, 3-11 OVC) jumped out to a 6-2 lead following back-to-back three-pointers from Mayo and Avare; however, TSU (17-11, 8-7 OVC) responded with a 12-0 run and went up 17-8 following an alley-oop dunk by Jordan Reed with 12:27 remaining in the first half.
 
The Tigers took their largest lead of the half, 28-13, with 5:56 showing, before a three-pointer by senior Isaac McGlone sparked a 6-0 EKU spurt. The Colonels ended the half on another 6-0 run, as a layup by Gist at the buzzer cut Tennessee State's lead to seven, 35-28, at the break.
 
EKU kept chipping away at the TSU lead in the second half and pulled to within two, 51-49, when Mayo drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with 7:45 remaining.
 
Charles tied the game up, 57-57, on a put-back with 2:25 on the clock.
 
McCall paced TSU with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Reed finished with eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Colonels return home next week to host Jacksonville State on Thursday night and Tennessee Tech on Saturday.