Tennessee State Tops Eastern Illinois 77-68 in NCAAB Clash
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Gentry Center
Tennessee State Tigers 77, Eastern Illinois Panthers 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers beat Eastern Illinois Panthers 77-68 at Gentry Center on February 5, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -485 (about 83% implied). The favorite won.
The Tennessee State Tigers secured a 77-68 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a closely contested NCAAB matchup at the Gentry Center. This win is significant for the Tigers, who improved their overall record to 16-8, while the Panthers fell to 9-16 on the season.
Tennessee State entered the game with a home record of 15-8 and had recently posted a 7-3 record over their last ten games, although they were on a one-game losing streak prior to this matchup. The Tigers averaged 82.7 points scored and allowed 77.7 points during this stretch. In their last five games, they maintained a scoring average of 78.0 points while allowing 76.0 points.
In contrast, Eastern Illinois had a record of 9-15 and was struggling with a three-game losing streak. Their recent form showed a 5-5 record over the last ten games, with an average of 68.5 points scored and 65.1 points allowed. The Panthers had a home record of 4-2 but struggled on the road, with a 1-3 record away from home.
The two teams had met earlier in the season on January 10, 2026, where Eastern Illinois emerged victorious with a score of 74-70. This matchup was crucial for Tennessee State, as they sought to even the score against a team that had previously bested them.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant absences for either team, indicating that both squads were likely at full strength for this encounter. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored Tennessee State with a spread of -9.5 and a moneyline of -485. Eastern Illinois was listed at +370 on the moneyline, reflecting the perceived disparity between the two teams.
The game conditions were conducive to an engaging contest, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. Tennessee State's scoring plays included a series of free throws and a notable three-point jumper from Meechie White, which helped solidify their lead in the second half. The Tigers' ability to convert free throws down the stretch proved crucial, as they maintained control of the game in the closing moments.
As the game progressed, the viewer could observe the Tigers' offensive strategy, which relied on aggressive scoring and effective free-throw shooting. The scoring plays highlighted the Tigers' ability to capitalize on opportunities at the line, with players like Jalen Pitre and Antoine Lorick III contributing significantly to the team's success.
Overall, this matchup not only showcased the competitive spirit of both teams but also underscored Tennessee State's resilience in bouncing back from their previous defeat against Eastern Illinois. The victory positions the Tigers favorably as they continue their campaign in the NCAAB season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TNST -9.5 | 145.5 o -112 / u -108 | Eastern Illinois Panthers +370 · Tennessee State Tigers -485 |
Leaders
- PointsAntoine Lorick III24Tennessee State Tigers
- AssistsDante Harris10Tennessee State Tigers
- ReboundsAaron Nkrumah5Tennessee State Tigers
- PointsKooper Jacobi15Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsPreston Turner2Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsTerry McMorris8Eastern Illinois Panthers
Recent form
Tennessee State Tigers
Last 10: 7-3Streak L182.7 scored · 77.7 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L85-90vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 3
- W70-63vs Little Rock TrojansJan 30
- W96-86at Lindenwood LionsJan 24
- L66-74at SIU Edwardsville CougarsJan 23
- W73-67vs Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 17
- W105-100vs Morehead State EaglesJan 16
- L70-74at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 10
- W90-68at Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 9
- W84-79at Little Rock TrojansJan 3
- W88-76at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesDec 31
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L368.5 scored · 65.1 allowed per game1-3 away
- L59-77vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 31
- L68-76vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 30
- L68-73at Morehead State EaglesJan 24
- W59-51at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 23
- W105-49vs Blackburn BeaversJan 18
- L63-74at Little Rock TrojansJan 16
- W57-55vs Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 14
- W74-70vs Tennessee State TigersJan 10
- W71-61vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 9
- L61-65at UT Martin SkyhawksJan 3
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | Eastern Illinois Panthers | Tennessee State Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-51 | 26-56 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 6-17 | 4-17 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 24 |
| Free throws | 10-15 | 21-27 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 20 |
| Assists | 9 | 15 |
| Steals | 4 | 10 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 18 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 40 |
| Fouls | 19 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 8 | 81 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-42Aaron Nkrumah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-42Kooper Jacobi makes layup (Preston Turner assists)
- 2nd Half39-42Zion Fruster makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half41-42Nazareth Fisher makes layup
- 2nd Half43-42Kooper Jacobi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half45-42Zion Fruster makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-44Kavien Jones makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half45-46Khalil London makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half48-46Markus Blackwell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Zion Fruster assists)
- 2nd Half48-47Khalil London makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-49Aaron Nkrumah makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half51-49Markus Blackwell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Malik Olafioye assists)
- 2nd Half51-52Antoine Lorick III makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half51-53Antoine Lorick III makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half51-55Dante Harris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half54-55Markus Blackwell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terry McMorris assists)
- 2nd Half54-58Aaron Nkrumah makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half54-60Aaron Nkrumah makes layup (Antoine Lorick III assists)
- 2nd Half56-60Terry McMorris makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half56-62Aaron Nkrumah makes layup
- 2nd Half58-62Kooper Jacobi makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half58-64Antoine Lorick III makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half60-64Meechie White makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-65Antoine Lorick III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-66Antoine Lorick III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-68Jabrion Spikes makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-69Dante Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-70Dante Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-70Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-70Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-70Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-71Aaron Nkrumah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-72Aaron Nkrumah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-73Dante Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-74Jalen Pitre makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-75Jalen Pitre makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-75Meechie White makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half66-76Antoine Lorick III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-77Antoine Lorick III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-77Preston Turner makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Tennessee State Tigers, below favours Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Venue
- Gentry CenterNashville, TN
- Attendance523
- OfficialsWil Howard, Dustin Williams, Frederick Gipson
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond