By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Hakeem Rogers came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points and Ryan Martin had his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds, but it was two free throws by Torrance Rowe with one-half second left to deliver an 81-79 Ohio Valley Conference victory for the Golden Eagles over Tennessee State Thursday night in Eblen Center.
Trailing by 10 at halftime and taking their first lead of the second half with just 3.23 to play, the Golden Eagles (15-7/7-2 OVC) remained unbeaten at home with an 11-0 mark. Tech is off to its best start of the season since 2005-06.
Tennessee State (14-6/5-2 OVC) lost its second consecutive conference game, after falling at Belmont Sunday afternoon.
The win sets up Tech for a Saturday night challenge with the unbeaten Bruins, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. in Eblen Center.
Tech held a 79-76 lead with just 10 seconds to play when Keron DeShields drew an off-balance foul while firing up a desperation 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds to play. He made two free tosses to get the Tigers within one, then came back following a Tech timeout to knock down the third and tie the contest.
The Golden Eagles got the ball inbounds to Rowe, who raced the length of the floor and pulled up for 3-pointer in the face of a leaping Tahjere McCall, who was whistled for the foul as the horn sounded.
After an official review of the replay, Rowe made his first two free throws then missed the final try, and TSU wasn't able to coral the rebound in time to launch another shot.
After shadow boxing through the first fie minutes, the Tigers surged into a lead behind 3-pointers by DeShields and McCall on the way to a 14-8 lead with 14:16 to play in the half. Tennessee State was able to maintain its lead the remainder of the period, eventually opening it to a 10-point spread at halftime, 43-33.
The largest margin of the night came early in the second half when TSU pushed it to 11 points, 52-41, with 15:47 to play.
Tech went on a 10-0 run, featuring three free throws and a layup from Rogers and capped by Rowe's jumper.
TSU took it back to nine with a 10-2 stretch, and the Golden Eagles continued to play catch-up.
Finally, with 4:11 remaining, Martin's slam dunk tied the game at 67-67.
The Golden Eagles were up by four points, 77-73, before DeShields hit a free throw followed by a layup to make it just one point. Rogers made two charity tosses before DeShields hit the three with five seconds left to set the stage for Rowe's game-winning points.
It was the third time this season that the Golden Eagle senior scored the decisive points, hitting a game-winning 3-pointer at Lipscomb and scored a game-tying layup at the buzzer against Jackson State and Tech went on to win in overtime.
The win also marked the fifth time this season that the Golden Eagles have posted a win after trailing by double figures, and the third-largest deficit they have overcome this season for a victory.
DeShields led all scorers with 37 points, going 10-for-19 from the field including 5-for-10 from long distance, and 12-of-14 at the free throw line. McCall finished with 17 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. He also had five assists and three steals. Wayne Martin added eight points and nine rebounds.
Rogers went 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-of-6 from long range, on his way to 23 points. Rowe finished with 19 points and four assists while Martin added 17 points and 14 rebounds, along with a career-high four assists.
Aleksa Jugovic scored 10 points, while Anthony Morse had six rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots. Shirmane Thomas finished with five points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Tech closes out the January portion of the schedule by hosting the OVC East Division first place team Saturday night as Belmont visits Eblen Center for a 7:30 p.m. contest. It's the second game of a promotion-filled doubleheader that begins with the women's game at 5:30 p.m.
It's Military and Public Safety Appreciation Night, with free admission to all current and former members of the U.S. military branches and their immediate family members with ID.
The night is also Gold Rush, with fans encouraged to wear gold to the game, and the first 1,500 fans into the arena may receive a free Gold Rush t-shirt.
Tech is also hosting Legends Night, with recognition planned for all formermen's and women's basketball players who return to campus for the contests.
