By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will take a break from its Ohio Valley Conference schedule Monday evening, taking a trip east to take on in-state rival East Tennessee State.
The two squads will match-up in a 6 p.m. CST contest at the Freedom Hall Civic Center, facing off the first time since last November. ETSU enters the game on a two game win streak, capturing victories in each of its last two contests. Tech comes in after falling on the road to Jacksonville State Saturday night.
Tennessee Tech (12-14) at East Tennessee State (15-10)
Monday, Feb. 16, 2015
6:00 p.m. CST
Freedom Hall Civic Center (6,500) – Johnson City, Tenn.
Game Notes
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Don Helman)
Webcast: SoCon Video
SETTING THE STAGE
These two squads have met 72 times over the years, with it all starting back in 1922-23 in Johnson City. The Bucs took a 45-16 victory that day, but over the years, this series has been back-and-forth so much, there has been no clear cut leader with each side claiming 36 games.
Tech has won each of the past three meetings between the two programs, including last year's contest in Cookeville. The Golden Eagles enjoyed one of their best offensive performances of the year, dropping 98 points in a 98-83 victory.
ETSU boasts four players who put up at least nine points per game, led by Jalen Riley. Despite making just four starts this season, Riley leads the Bucs at 19.8 points per game and with 39 steals. He shoots over 80 percent from the charity stripe with over 175 attempts.
Rashawn Rembert ranks second on the team in scoring, chipping 15.4 points per game while also shooting over 80 percent from the free throw line. He is a 40 percent 3-point shooter on 205 attempts. Lester Wilson also scored in double figures, scoring 12.6 points with 3.9 rebounds on 43.4 percent shooting.
As a team, the Bucs average 74.3 points per game and shoot over 37 percent from 3-point range. ETSU does allow 71.4 points to its opponents, so a shootout isn't out of the question for Monday night.
The Golden Eagles also boast four players scoring at least nine points per game and as a team, average just under 70 points.
Tech is led by junior Charles Jackson, who averages 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the field. He also leads the team with 35 blocks and 25 steals.
Senior Dwan Caldwell adds 11.5 points per game while pulling in 5.3 rebounds and shooting 73 percent from the charity stripe. Torrance Rowe scores 10.7 points behind 80 percent free throw shooting.
Photo by Jim Dillon
