Game will mark homecoming for eight TTU players

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech will open play in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) at Georgia State on Tuesday, tournament officials confirmed Thursday night.

The first-round game will tip off at 6 p.m. CDT at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta.

Tech has eight Georgia natives on its roster, all of whom are from the Atlanta metro area. The Golden Eagles have played an all-Georgia starting five for each of the past six games.

The postseason appearance will be the sixth all-time and second consecutive for Tech, which also played in the CIT a season ago, falling in the first round at Western Michigan. The Golden Eagles will have the opportunity to secure their second consecutive 20-win season with a victory on Tuesday.

Tech finished the regular season with a 19-13 record and went 9-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play, falling to eventual champion Murray State in the tournament semifinals.

Georgia State posted a 21-11 record this season and went 11-7 in Colonial Athletic Association play, falling to George Mason by two points in the CAA quarterfinals.

The two squads have no common opponents.

Tech is led in scoring by Kevin Murphy, who averages 21.1 points per game and ranks 10^th in NCAA Division I. Together with Jud Dillard, who scores 17.7, the pair are the No. 3 scoring duo in the country. Dillard also pulls down 8.7 rebounds per game while Zac Swansey dishes out 6.0 assists.

Senior guard Jihad Ali leads Georgia State in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per contest. The Panthers also get 12.4 points per game from sophomore guard Devonta White and 11.1 from senior forward Eric Buckner. Buckner leads GSU in rebounding, pulling down 7.2 boards per outing.

Tickets are available by calling the Georgia State ticket office at 1-866-GA-STATE.

The game will be broadcast on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via WHUB AM 1400 locally and at www.1400TheHub.com online.