NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting overtime thriller on Thursday evening, SIU Edwardsville secured a victory against Tennessee State, winning 87-80. Brian Taylor II played a key role in the game, contributing 23 points, while Ray’Sean Taylor notched 21 points for the Cougars, helping them come from behind for the win.

Brian Taylor not only excelled in scoring but also grabbed five rebounds, helping the Cougars improve their record to 12-6 overall and 5-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference. His teammate Ray’Sean Taylor was impressive as well, making three shots from beyond the arc and converting 10 out of 11 free-throw attempts, complemented by three steals during the game. Additionally, Ring Malith added to the team’s efforts, shooting 6 for 9 from the field and finishing with 16 points.

On the other side, Aaron Nkrumah led the Tennessee State Tigers with a solid performance, scoring 16 points along with eight rebounds and two steals. Carlous Williams recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Ron Jessamy added 11 points to the scoreboard for the Tigers, who now stand at 6-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

The pivotal moment of the game came when Ray’Sean Taylor sunk two free throws with just three seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game at 75 and pushing the match into overtime. The Cougars were ultimately able to capitalize on this momentum to secure their hard-fought victory.