By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – They're back! The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team finally makes its return to the Eblen Center Monday evening, Dec. 29, playing host to a familiar foe in the team's first home game in over three weeks.
For the second time this season, the Golden Eagles (7-5) will take on North Florida, playing host to the Ospreys (7-6) just two weeks after edging the same squad in Jacksonville, 82-80.
Tech will put its perfect record at home on the line against UNF, coming off a road swing that saw the Golden Eagles grab a 2-2 mark. TTU earned victories over North Florida and UMKC while just falling to SEC opponents Alabama and Tennessee.
Tennessee Tech (7-5) vs. North Florida (7-6)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2014
6:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (9,250) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: Golden Eagle Sports Network on the OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
SETTING THE STAGE
After getting off to its best start ever as a Division I program, North Florida has fallen in three of its past four contests, including the game against Tech. The Ospreys fell to Florida State and Iowa on the road while picking up a road victory over Florida A&M.
Prior to its loss to the Golden Eagles, UNF had put together a five-game win streak, including its largest victory in program history, an upset win on the road against Purdue.
Guard Dallas Moore continues to lead the Ospreys this season, averaging 17.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He leads the Atlantic Sun in scoring as well as 3-point shooting, knocking down 46 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Moore also leads the team with 45 assists.
The Golden Eagles enter the contest after pulling off its largest road victory since the 2011-12 campaign, and largest non-conference road win since 1982. Tech clobbered UMKC in Kansas City, 81-60, behind a complete team effort and despite battling foul trouble.
Junior Charles Jackson is the lead man for the Tech squad, leading the team in both points and rebounding with averages of 13.3 and 9.2 per game, respectively. He owns nine double-doubles this season, ranking in the top three nationally.
Photo by Tony Marable
