VOLUNTEER, DYERSBURG, SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE ADVANCE TO QUARTERS

The 2026 TCCAA / NJCAA Region VII Tournament got underway Friday morning at Volunteer State.  All lower seeds advanced as host Volunteer State defeated Jackson State 75-68, before Dyersburg State defeated Pellissippoi State 95-87 in double overtime.  In the third game Southwest Tennessee defeated Cleveland State in overtime.

VOLUNTEER 75 - JACKSON 68

In the first game of the day, Jackson jumped out early in the contest and held a double digit lead early.  Vol would fight their way back into the game before tying it up at 35 as the teams went to the locker room at the half.  The Pioneers would build a lead in the second half that the Greenjays cut into as the game would see runs by both squads.  Volunteer would put the game away late by connecting on free throws to maintain the lead.

For the Pioneers, they were led by Preston King with 24 points.  Auden Slaughter and Maxwell Moore also reached double figures in the contest.  Slaughter finished the game with 22 points as Moore contributed 13 in the win.  Moore and Demerris Carroll led the way with seven rebounds while King had five boards.  Slaughter led the team with five assists.  Cannon Hale, Macon Adkison, and Dylan Delk each had two steals.

For Jackson, they had four scorers reach double figures led by Cooper Loll with 14 points.  Ron Brisbon and LeKendric Phillips each contributed twelve while Chris Mitchell finished with 11 in the contest.  Brisbon led the squad with 13 rebounds while Mitchell finished the game with nine boards.  Loll would finish the game with six caroms.  Brisbon had 4 assists while Gary Evans III and Dallas Berkley each had two steals to lead the team.

DYERSBURG 95 - PELLISSIPPI 87

In a very tightly contested game, Dyersburg would outscore Pellissippi 14-6 in the second overtime to win the game.  They held a 41-32 leaad after the first 20 minutes, but Pellissippi would tie the affair late to force overtime.  After matching each other in the first overtime, the Eagles would pull away late in the second overtime by making crucial shots and free throws down the stretch.

For Dyersburg, all five starters reached double figures in the game.They were led by Emmanuel Okogie with 28 points.  Isaiah Claybrooks would add 20, and he was followed by Elijah Causly with 18 points. Bryce Scurlark and Destin Christian rounded out the scoring with 14 and 11 points.  Causly would lead the team with ten rebounds followed by Christian, Claybrooks, and Okogie each contributing six boards.  Causly would lead thew team with seven assists. Causly, Claybrooks, Okogie, and AJ Petway each had two steals.

For Pellissippi, they were led by Jayden Dickens with 20 points.  Chazaiah Curry followed with 14 points, J'Davien Perry with 13, and Tacarien Freeman with eleven in the game. Curry led the team with 13 rebounds while Chris Mulombela added eight boards.  JoJo Lyles finished with five assists, and Curry passed out five in the contest.  Curry also led the team with four steals.

SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE 80 - CLEVELAND 76

In another close game, both teams held leads in the first half beofre Cleveland went to the break leading 30-29.  The game stayed consistent in the second half as both teams held leads.  With the score tied, both teams had attempts to win regulation.  The overtime saw both teams hit three-pointers early before Southwest took advantage by hitting back to back three pointers in the last minute to ice the game.

For Southwest, they had five scorers reach double figures led by Jeremiah Hayes with 17 points.  Kody Hickerson was next with 15 points, and Christopher King finished with 13 markers.  Eric Jones and Blake Ganer finished with 11 and 10 points.  Abdoul Sacko led the team with eight rebounds followed by Hickerson with five.  Hickerson had four assists to lead the team.  Garner led the squad with two steals.

For Cleveland, Kedrick Franklin led the team with 17 points.  Three other scorers reached double figures as Brandon Lanier added 14, Xavier Washington had 13, A.J. Horton finished with ten points.  Lanier finished with 14 rebounds followed by Franklin with nine, and Jacob Turner with eight.  Horton had three assists to lead the squad while Lanier had three steals in the contest.

TOURNAMENT CONTINUES SATURDAY

Play continues in the men's tournament on Saturday as top seed Walters State will play Volunteer at noon.  The 2pm contests will pit Chattanooga State against Motlow State.  At 4pm, it will be Columbia State against Dyersburg.  In the finale at 6pm, it will be Roane State plying Southwest Tennessee.