Tennessee State beats Morehead State 93-67, wins first OVC Tournament title since '94

Top-seeded Tennessee State captures first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship in 32 years

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Tennessee State University's men's basketball team defeated Morehead State University 93-67 in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday night. The Tigers, who were the top seed in the tournament, won their first OVC Tournament title since 1994, ending a 32-year drought.

Why it matters

Tennessee State's victory marks a significant milestone for the program, as they have not won the OVC Tournament championship since the mid-1990s. This win secures the Tigers an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, giving them a chance to compete on the national stage for the first time in over three decades.

The details

Tennessee State was led by a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures. Antoine Lorick III scored a team-high 18 points, while Travis Harper II made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Dante Harris and Carlous Williams added 16 points each, and Aaron Nkrumah chipped in 14 points and six assists. The Tigers shot an impressive 16-of-26 from beyond the arc as a team.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 9, 2026.
  • Tennessee State's last OVC Tournament championship was in 1994.

The players

Antoine Lorick III

A key player for Tennessee State, scoring a team-high 18 points in the championship game.

Travis Harper II

Made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Tigers.

George Marshall

Led Morehead State with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

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What’s next

Tennessee State will now await the NCAA Tournament selection show to find out their seeding and first-round opponent.

The takeaway

Tennessee State's victory in the OVC Tournament championship game marks a significant accomplishment for the program, as they have not won the conference title since 1994. This win not only secures an NCAA Tournament berth but also showcases the team's impressive offensive firepower and balanced scoring attack.