Game Overview

Date: 11/03/2025

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Gentry Center, Nashville                                                                                                                     

Teams: Fisk University vs. Tennessee State University

Team Profiles

 Fisk Players to Watch

• #23 Simeon Williams 6'6 Junior Nashville MLK/Columbia State: HBCUAC Newcomer of the Week…Scored a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds on October 25 against William Carey.
• #2 Kaleb Jeffries, 6'0 Freshman Memphis: Double figures in all three games this season…Leading scorer against UT Southern with 19 points…High of 24 points in the season opener at Faulkner University.
• #14 Kailon Benton-Hamilton 6'5 Senior Nashville: Scored in double figures in two of the three games this season…High of 17 points at Faulkner University.

Key Matchups

• Play in the post: Fisk is undersized and needs to rebound. After a wide margin differential against Faulkner in the two-point loss in overtime, the Bulldogs have outrebounded their next two opponents.
• Shooting in a bigger gym: Coach Crutcher believes in giving his players the green light. Playing in a spacious arena could give shooters problems due to the depth perception. Cutting down turnovers and getting transition points will be a key if shooters struggle.

Coaches' Insights

• Jeremiah Crutcher played point guard at TSU from Former TSU star, and NBA veteran Rob Covington gives Crutcher a lot of credit for his success.
• Nolan Smith played at Duke University. Last season he was on the bench at the University of Memphis.

Recent News & Storylines

• First game for Nolan Smith as a head coach.
• Fisk has not won against TSU since November 25, 2002.
• Fisk has 12 players on their active roster and practice squad that are from Tennessee. Nine are from the Middle Tennessee area.
• Fisk was picked to finish tenth in the HBCUAC Preseason Poll.
• Only four players (Carrington Allen, Mark Cooper, Lucious Jackson, and Mitch Seay) on the current Fisk roster saw action in last season's matchup.
• Lucious Jackson's grandfather Lucious Jackson II played for the Philadelphia 76ers and won an NBA championship in 1967. He was a teammate of Wilt Chamberlain.

Game Analysis

For the fourth straight season, the Battle on Jefferson Street will serve as the kickoff to the Fisk University Homecoming Week. In 2022, the announced attendance was 8967, which is the largest crowd in Gentry Center in recent years.

How to Watch

• TV: ESPN Plus

Additional Tidbits

• The last time Fisk defeated TSU was November 25, 2002. McKinley Young Jr., a member of the Fisk men's team, and April Knight, who played for the Fisk women's team's daughter A'Niya Young was born on that day. Young rushed from the hospital and played in the second half of the game. A'Niya Young played for Fisk and graduated in 2025.
• Only five current Fisk players were born the last time Fisk defeated TSU. (Carrington Allen, Nicolas Beaird-Kennard, Mark Cooper, Kailon Benton – Hamilton and TJ Cross).
• EJ Jointer is a transfer from TSU.

Prepared by Scott Wallace, Assistant Athletic Director/Media Relations 615-992-1069 scwallace@fisk.edu