SIU Edwardsville Cougars vs Tennessee State Tigers Prediction, 2/21/2026 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: SIU Edwardsville Cougars vs Tennessee State Tigers

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Location: Gentry Center in Nashville, TN

TV: ESPN+

The Tennessee State Tigers (17-9) are welcoming the SIU Edwardsville Cougars (17-10) at Gentry Center on Saturday.

The SIU Edwardsville Cougars took the court against UT Martin and took a loss by a score of 81-76 in their last game. SIU Edwardsville wrapped up the contest having earned a 42.6% field goal percentage (23 out of 54) and made 13 of their 28 shots from beyond the perimeter. From the charity stripe, the Cougars knocked down 17 of 24 tries for a rate of 70.8%. In regard to rebounding, they earned a total of 31 with 13 of them being offensive. They also recorded 12 dimes for the game while forcing 13 turnovers and getting 10 steals. When talking about defense, SIU Edwardsville let their opponent shoot 53.1% from the floor on 26 out of 49 shooting. UT Martin recorded 14 dimes and had 12 steals for the matchup. Moreover, UT Martin had 26 rebounds (6 offensive, 20 defensive), but didn't notch a rejection. UT Martin finished shooting 78.3% from the free throw line by converting 18 of 23 tries. They converted 11 of their 24 tries from distance. With respect to personal fouls, the Cougars finished with 20 while UT Martin racked up 18 personal fouls.

Tyler King is one player who was a major contributor in the matchup. He was able to score 27 points on 9 of 16 shooting. He saw the court for 35 mins and also collected 6 boards. He finished the contest at 56.3% from the field and also dished out 2 dimes.

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SIU Edwardsville heads into this contest with a mark of 17-10 for the year. They turn the ball over 11.7 times per game and as a team are committing 16.3 personal fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, SIU Edwardsville is snagging 37.1 rebounds per game and has accounted for 359 dimes this year, which is 223rd in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. The Cougars are shooting 35.3% on 3-point shots (196 of 555) and 68.5% from the free throw line. They have an average of 72.3 points per outing (274th in the country) while connecting on 44.7% from the floor.

On the defensive end of the court, the Cougars are forcing 12.4 turnovers on a nightly basis while drawing 16.0 fouls. They are 13th in D-1 in giving up assists to the opposition with 280 relinquished this year. The Cougars are allowing a FG percentage of 39.0% (602 of 1,542) and they surrender 34.9 boards per game as a team. They are giving up 30.3% on shots from distance and they are 14th in D-1 in points per game allowed (65.0).

The last time they took the court, the Tennessee State Tigers took a defeat with a final score of 94-86 against Morehead State. The Tigers snagged 13 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive boards totaling 26 in the matchup. They also turned the ball over 7 times, while getting 9 steals in this contest. Morehead State committed 23 personal fouls for this game which got the Tigers to the free throw line for 36 attempts. They were able to bury 32 of those for a percentage of 88.9%. In regard to 3-point attempts, Tennessee State converted 8 of their 22 tries (36.4%). When all was said and done, the Tigers shot 23 out of 61 from the field which gave them a rate of 37.7%. The Tigers permitted Morehead State to make 32 of 53 attempts from the field which had them shooting 60.4% in the game. They wrapped up this game 44.4% from distance by shooting 8 out of 18 and finished the game at 22 out of 28 at the free throw line (78.6%). Concerning rebounds, Tennessee State permitted Morehead State to snag 28 in total (7 on the offensive glass).

Travis Harper II was important for the Tigers in the game. He racked up 30 points in his 34 minutes on the hardwood, but finished this game without an assist. He converted 8 out of 18 in the game for a rate of 44.4%, and accounted for 2 rebounds.

Tennessee State has a record of 17-9 this year. The Tigers are committing 18.8 fouls every game and they connect on 75.7% from the charity stripe. They are earning an assist 13.5 times per contest (215th in the country) and they cough up possession 12.2 times per contest. Tennessee State has tallied 2,101 pts on the season (80.8 per game) and they collect 37.7 rebounds per game. When it comes to executing on offense, the Tigers are connecting on 45.7% from the field, which is 152nd in college.

The Tennessee State defense concedes 33.3% on 3-point attempts (182 of 547) and opponents are making 71.8% of their free throw shots. They give up 13.2 assists and 34.9 rebounds per game, which has them ranked 161st and 218th in D-1. The Tigers defensively are ranked 242nd in the country in PPG given up with 76.1. They are able to force 14.6 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 45.5% from the field (263rd in college).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take SIU Edwardsville

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