The Tennessee State University men’s basketball team captured the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship for the first time in more than three decades, defeating Morehead State 93-67 Saturday night at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind

The victory earns the Tigers an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s first appearance in the national bracket since 1994. Under first-year head coach Nolan Smith, Tennessee State improved to 23-9 on the season while ending a 32-year championship drought.

Antoine Lorick III led a balanced offensive attack with a game-high 18 points and two blocks. He was one of five Tigers to score in double figures, joined by Travis Harper II with 17 points and Carlous Williams, who contributed 16 points off the bench. Dante Harris earned OVC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after recording a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Aaron Nkrumah added 11 points and six assists in the win.

Tennessee State established dominance early, utilizing a 13-0 run in the first half to take a 20-7 lead. The Tigers relied heavily on their perimeter shooting, connecting on 12 three-pointers in the opening period to build a 55-34 halftime advantage. By the end of the contest, the Tigers converted 16 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc.

The defensive effort proved equally effective, as Tennessee State held Morehead State to 36.2% shooting from the field and 30% from three-point range. The Tigers controlled the glass with a 44-29 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive rebounds that resulted in 14 second-chance points.

Morehead State, led by George Marshall with 17 points, managed to cut the lead to 12 points midway through the second half. However, Tennessee State responded with a late 6-0 run to extend the margin to as many as 28 points in the final minutes.

With the conference title secured, Tennessee State joins the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The official bracket and seeding will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15.