NASHVILLE, TN (November 9, 2026) – The Battle of Jefferson Street belonged to Tennessee State University on Monday night as the Tigers delivered a commanding 123-73 victory over crosstown rival Fisk University at the Gentry Center. In front of 3,521 fans, TSU combined a dominant offensive performance with a special pregame celebration honoring the program’s historic 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Once the game tipped off, Tennessee State wasted little time taking control. With the Tigers leading 12-9 early in the first half, Deondrea Lindsey sparked a 14-0 run that quickly pushed the advantage to 26-9. TSU never trailed and continued to build its lead behind an aggressive defense, efficient shooting and relentless pressure in transition.
Aaron Bradshaw led the way with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting while adding five blocked shots. The Tigers’ big man established his presence early, scoring 17 points in the first half and helping Tennessee State build a 54-36 halftime advantage.
The Tigers came out even stronger after the break, opening the second half with 11 unanswered points to stretch their lead to 65-36. From there, Tennessee State continued to pour it on, scoring 69 second-half points and eventually reaching the century mark for the second consecutive game.
The offensive production was spread throughout the lineup, with all five TSU starters scoring in double figures. Lindsey finished with 16 points, Arterio Morris contributed 15 points, nine assists and five steals, while Christian Alston added 13. Ty-Laur Johnson recorded an impressive double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, along with six rebounds and five steals.
Tennessee State’s depth was equally impressive. Ajayi Simmons and Daniel Vieira-Tuck each contributed 11 points off the bench, with Vieira-Tuck providing one of the night’s exciting sequences when he followed a defensive block and rebound with a fast-break dunk. The Tigers’ reserves combined for 45 points.
Statistically, the performance was overwhelming. Tennessee State shot nearly 60 percent from the field, dished out 31 assists and forced 27 Fisk turnovers, converting those mistakes into 45 points. The Tigers also dominated inside, outscoring the Bulldogs 80-34 in the paint while holding Fisk to just 37.1 percent shooting.
Defensively, TSU recorded 20 steals and 12 blocked shots, consistently disrupting Fisk’s offense and creating opportunities in transition. The Tigers finished with a commanding 45-14 advantage in fast-break points.
Beyond the final score, the evening celebrated the continued growth of Tennessee State basketball. From honoring last season’s conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance to delivering a dominant performance against a familiar Nashville opponent, the Tigers gave their home crowd plenty to celebrate.
With the victory, Tennessee State improved to 2-1 on the season and now turns its attention to a much tougher road test against the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on Friday, November 13.
For one night at the Gentry Center, the championship celebration and the Battle of Jefferson Street came together as Tennessee State reminded its fans of the program’s winning tradition and its ambitions for the season ahead.
