COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Patrick Miller scored 21 points and Tennessee State won its third straight game, beating Tennessee Tech 72-66 Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference play.

M.J. Rhett, who entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, posted a career-high 16 and Jordan Cyphers added 14 for the Tigers (8-7, 2-0), who have won six of their last eight games after losing five of their first seven.

Jeremiah Samarrippas scored a career-high 22 points and Lanerryl Johnson had 21 for Tennessee Tech (6-8, 0-2), which has lost its last four games by an average of 20 points.

Tennessee State was, again, without one of their biggest weapons, Robert Covington. Covington, who also missed the Tigers' previous two games, was averaging 17.4 points and 7.7 rebounds before tearing his meniscus in his right knee on Dec. 18.