Tennessee State Dominates Western Illinois 83-56
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Gentry Center
Tennessee State Tigers 83, Western Illinois Leathernecks 56, 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 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers beat Western Illinois Leathernecks 83-56 at Gentry Center on February 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Western Illinois Leathernecks vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1600 (about 94% implied). The favorite won.
The Tennessee State Tigers showcased their strength with a decisive 83-56 victory over the Western Illinois Leathernecks at the Gentry Center. This win extends Tennessee State's dominance in their recent matchups against Western Illinois, improving their head-to-head record to 3-0 over the past two seasons. The Tigers had previously defeated the Leathernecks 90-68 just a month prior, and their consistency against this opponent has been evident in each meeting.
Tennessee State entered the game with a solid home record of 16-8, having won seven of their last ten games, and they were on a one-game winning streak following a victory against Eastern Illinois on February 6. In that game, they scored 77 points while allowing 68. Over their last ten outings, the Tigers averaged 81.6 points per game while allowing 76.9, indicating a high-scoring style of play that has characterized their recent performances.
In contrast, Western Illinois struggled significantly, bringing a dismal away record of 4-21 into the contest. They were on a ten-game losing streak, having not secured a win in their last ten games, with an average of 62.6 points scored and 79.1 points allowed during that stretch. Their last game resulted in a 72-97 loss to Tennessee Tech, highlighting their ongoing difficulties on the court.
The game began with Tennessee State asserting their dominance early, and they maintained control throughout. The Tigers' scoring was led by a balanced attack, with their offensive strategy effectively exploiting Western Illinois' defensive vulnerabilities. The Leathernecks, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, failing to keep pace with Tennessee State's scoring.
In terms of scoring averages, Tennessee State's recent form included an average of 78.8 points scored and 76.2 points allowed in their last five games. Meanwhile, Western Illinois averaged only 64.0 points and allowed 85.2 points in their last five outings, further illustrating the disparity in performance between the two teams.
The odds heading into the game, provided by DraftKings, reflected Tennessee State's expected dominance, with a spread of -15.5 in their favor. The total for the game was set at 151.5, indicating an expectation for a high-scoring affair, which ultimately was met by Tennessee State's offensive output.
The game conditions were favorable for the home team, playing in front of their fans at the Gentry Center, which likely contributed to their strong performance. The Tigers capitalized on their home court advantage, reinforcing their reputation as a formidable opponent at home.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but the impact of player health can often influence team performance. Tennessee State's ability to field a full-strength lineup may have played a role in their commanding victory.
As the game progressed, viewers were treated to several notable scoring plays, including a layup by Lucas Lorenzen and a jumper from the same player, showcasing individual skill amidst the team's collective effort. The Tigers' ability to maintain a high level of play, particularly in the second half, was pivotal in securing their victory.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two teams, with Tennessee State continuing to build momentum as they approach the latter part of the season, while Western Illinois struggles to find a way to break their losing streak.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TNST -15.5 | 151.5 o -105 / u -115 | Western Illinois Leathernecks +900 · Tennessee State Tigers -1600 |
Leaders
- PointsAntoine Lorick III18Tennessee State Tigers
- AssistsDante Harris6Tennessee State Tigers
- ReboundsJalen Pitre10Tennessee State Tigers
- PointsLucas Lorenzen24Western Illinois Leathernecks
- AssistsMakai Kvamme2Western Illinois Leathernecks
- ReboundsLucas Lorenzen6Western Illinois Leathernecks
Recent form
Tennessee State Tigers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W181.6 scored · 76.9 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W77-68vs Eastern Illinois PanthersFeb 6
- 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
Western Illinois Leathernecks
Last 10: 0-10Streak L1062.6 scored · 79.1 allowed per game0-6 away
- L72-97at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 6
- L44-84vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 31
- L74-78vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 30
- L64-96at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 24
- L66-71at Morehead State EaglesJan 23
- L79-86at Little Rock TrojansJan 17
- L55-57at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 14
- L54-59vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 10
- L68-90vs Tennessee State TigersJan 9
- L50-73at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 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 | Western Illinois Leathernecks | Tennessee State Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 18-54 | 34-66 |
| Field goal % | 33 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 4-20 | 4-19 |
| Three-point % | 20 | 21 |
| Free throws | 16-22 | 11-12 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 92 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 28 |
| Assists | 7 | 15 |
| Steals | 4 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 15 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 58 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 38 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-43Tyran Cook makes layup
- 2nd Half27-45Antoine Lorick III makes layup (Travis Harper II assists)
- 2nd Half29-45Lucas Lorenzen makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half29-47Aaron Nkrumah makes layup
- 2nd Half29-49Aaron Nkrumah makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half31-49Makai Kvamme makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half31-52Aaron Nkrumah makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half34-52Makai Kvamme makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lucas Lorenzen assists)
- 2nd Half34-54Jalen Pitre makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half34-56Dante Harris makes layup
- 2nd Half34-58Travis Harper II makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half35-58Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-58Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-60Jabrion Spikes makes layup
- 2nd Half36-62Jabrion Spikes makes layup
- 2nd Half37-62Tyran Cook makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half38-62Tyran Cook makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half38-64Jabrion Spikes makes layup (Carlous Williams assists)
- 2nd Half38-66Damon Howard Jr. makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half38-68JC Brooks makes layup
- 2nd Half38-70Jabrion Spikes makes layup (Khalil London assists)
- 2nd Half40-70Danny Stephens makes 11-foot jumper (Isaiah Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half43-70Lucas Lorenzen makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half43-72Jalen Pitre makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half43-74Travis Harper II makes layup
- 2nd Half43-77Aaron Nkrumah makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half43-79Antoine Lorick III makes layup
- 2nd Half43-80Khalil London makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-81Khalil London makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-81Antwaun Massey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-81Antwaun Massey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-81Lucas Lorenzen makes layup
- 2nd Half49-81Lucas Lorenzen makes layup (Makai Kvamme assists)
- 2nd Half49-83Jabrion Spikes makes layup (Damon Howard Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half50-83Goanar Biliew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-83Goanar Biliew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-83Lucas Lorenzen makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-83Nick Hittle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-83Nick Hittle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-83Nick Hittle makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Tennessee State Tigers, below favours Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Venue
- Gentry CenterNashville, TN
- Attendance327
- OfficialsBarry Mathis, Tavares Armour, John Garrett
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