By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team keeps its five-game home stand rolling entering the weekend, as the Golden Eagles play host to three teams in three days beginning with a 6 p.m. CST match-up against Robert Morris Friday evening.
The contest marks another game involved with the Air Force Classic. On Saturday, the Eblen Center will host a match-up between Robert Morris and Mississippi Valley State at 7:30 p.m., also part of the tournament. Tech's Sunday contest against Mississippi Valley State will wrap up the Air Force Classic.
The Golden Eagles will also play Saturday evening, squaring off against UC Clermont at 5:30 p.m. prior to the contest between the Colonials and Delta Devils.
Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle follow via live webstream on the OVC Digital Network.
Tennessee Tech (2-2) vs. Robert Morris (0-5)
Friday, Nov. 27, 2015
6:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center – Cookeville, Tenn.
Live Stats
Tennessee Tech (2-2) vs. UC Clermont (3-6)
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015
5:30 p.m. CST
Eblen Center – Cookeville, Tenn.
Live Stats
Tennessee Tech (2-2) vs. Mississippi Valley State (0-5)
Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015
2:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center – Cookeville, Tenn.
Live Stats
The Broadcasts (all weekend)
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey/Dylan Vazzano)
Webcast: Golden Eagle Sports Network on the OVC Digital Network (Roger Ealey/Dylan Vazzano)
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS
Tech returns to play in the Air Force Classic by hosting Robert Morris in the Eblen Center Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. CST.
The game marks the first of three straight days of action for Tech, which will host UC Clermont Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. and Mississippi Valley State in the final Air Force Classic contest Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
Robert Morris is in its sixth season under the helm of head coach Andrew Toole.
The Colonials enter Friday at 0-5 on the year, including a tough overtime loss at New Mexico State Tuesday evening.
Last season, Robert Morris compiled a 20-15 overall record and 12-6 mark in the Northeast Conference, won the NEC Tournament and defeated North Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Eagles and Colonials will face off for the first time in program history.
Rodney Pryor is the leading scorer for the Colonials, averaging 19.6 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest.
ABOUT UC CLERMONT
Tech keeps its five-game home stand rolling, hosting the UC Clermont in the Eblen Center Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. CST.
The game marks the second of three straight days of action for Tech, which will host Mississippi Valley State in the final Air Force Classic contest Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
UC Clermont, a Division II program, is in its fifth season under the direction of head coach Greg Himes.
The Cougars enter Saturday at 3-6 on the year, including back-to-back, double-digit victories.
Last season, UC Clermont compiled a 7-20 overall record while competing in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Golden Eagles and Cougars will face off for the first time in program history.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
Tech finalizes play in the Air Force Classic by hosting Mississippi Valley State in the Eblen Center Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. CST.
Mississippi Valley State is in its second season under the direction of head coach Andre Payne.
The Delta Devils enter the weekend at 0-5 on the year and have yet to play a game at home this season.
Last season, MVSU compiled a 6-25 overall record and 5-13 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The Golden Eagles and Delta Devils square off for the fourth time in program history, with Tech owning the 2-1 advantage. All three prior meetings occurred during the 1989-90 season, with TTU taking the first two contests (one at home and one at the Citizens Bank Classic in Jonesboro, Ark.) and MVSU claiming the final game in Cookeville.
Damian Young is the leading scorer for the Delta Devils, averaging 12.2 points and a team-best 2.6 steals per contest.
JACKSON STATE RECAP
The Golden Eagles kept their non-conference home win streak alive with their 10th straigh victory, an 86-82 overtime win over Jackson State.
Tech trailed by as much as 10 points with under four minutes to play in the second half, rallying to send the game to an extra period behind a last-second layup by Torrance Rowe.
Jackson State out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 56-40, including an astonshing 28-8 advantage on the offensive glass, but Tech owned overtime on the boards, pulling down seven to the Tigers' two.
The Tigers were whistled for 32 fouls, allowing Tech to attempt 45 free throws. The Golden Eagles converted on 37 of them, the most by a TTU squad since 2007.
After dropping a career-high 35 points, including a 15-for-17 showing at the line, Torrance Rowe became the first Golden Eagle to score 35 since Kevin Murphy set the program-record with 50 in 2012.
Senior Ryan Martin posted career bests of 20 points and nine rebounds, sinking 11 of his 13 free throw attempts.
Tech moved to 4-0 all-time in overtime contests under head coach Steve Payne.
Rowe and Martin became the first Tech teammates to each hit 10 or more free throws in a contest since Jud Dillard and Kevin Murphy back in 2012. Dillard finished with 29 points while Murphy posted 33 in a 94-88 victory over Austin Peay.
CAPTAIN COMEBACK
Named one of two team captains following last season, Torrance Rowe has accepted the role as a senior and is leading by example.
With just five seconds remaining on the clock and Tech trailing Jackson State 71-69, Torrance Rowe raced the length of the court just in time to toss in a layup and beat the buzzer to knot things at 71. Tech overcame a 10-point, second-half deficit to defeat the Tigers 86-82 in overtime.
Rowe scored 17 of the team's final 28 points, all coming with less than three minutes to play in the second half.
Familiar with rallying his troops, Rowe showed the ability to put the team on his back last season in a thrilling, comeback victory over Chattanooga.
Trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, the senior scored a then-career-high 18 points in leading the Golden Eagles to a 69-67 victory.
With the score tied at 65 with 30 seconds remaining, he drilled the game-winning three to cap the remarkable turnaround.
In four games, Rowe leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 20.3 points per game, good enough for second in the OVC.
T-Rowe owns an 86.2 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 13 assists while playing over 33 minutes per game.
BIG ANT
After establishing a new career-high in points in Tech's season-opening victory against Piedmont College with 13, Anthony Morse reset the mark by scoring 14 at Air Force.
The senior also corralled a career-high 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, recording his first career double-double.
On the year, Morse ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in field goal percentage, connecting on 71.4 percent of his shots.
BLOCK PARTY
Adept at rejecting an opponent's attempt at the bucket since his arrival to the Tech squad in 2012, Anthony Morse has quietly climbed his way up the all-time list for career blocks.
After blocking four shots against the Tigers, Morse now has 60 in his career and needs just six more to crack the top 10 in Tech history.
At the conclusion of his career in 1997, only three players (Adonal Foyle, Tim Duncan, and Alonzo Mourning) had more blocks in NCAA history than Tech's all-time leader, the late, great Lorenzo Coleman. With 439 rejections in four seasons, he still sits 12th all-time.
ONE SHOT, ONE OPPORTUNITY
After receiving just one year of eligibility from the NCAA following his transfer from South Plains College, Ryan Martin is out to make the most of his lone season at the Division I level.
The native of London, England was heavily recruited by St. Jonh's University and drew interest from Arizona State, Gonzaga, VCU, Utah State and Louisiana, but the uncertainty of his status with the NCAA cooled most teams away from the big man.
Martin practiced all of last season with the Golden Eagles and participated in Tech's exhibition contest against Bluefield College.
Steve Payne loves Martin's energy level, raving about a motor that never seems to quit. He likes that the Brit plays with emotion and can use it to his advantage.
The senior possesses great rebounding ability and the option to step back and knock down shots from beyond the arc.
In his Golden Eagle debut, Martin tallied 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and hauled in five rebounds with just 23 minutes of action.
Against Jackson State, Martin posted career-highs in both points and rebounds, dropping 20 and nine, respectively.
On the year, Martin is averaging 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds.
GIVE ME SOME SUGAR
Making just his fourth career start, Aleksa Jugovic enjoyed his best performance in the purple and gold in the season-opener, exploding for a career-high 20 points while dishing out five assists with no turnovers.
The sophomore shot 8-of-9 from the field while knocking down four out of five 3-point attempts.
Fans can follow Jugovic on Twitter under his handle/nickname @SerbianSugar.
Between his junior and senior years in high school, Jugovic starred for the Serbian U-18 national team, starting at point guard at the 2013 FIBA Europe U-18 Championships. He averaged a team-high 30.2 minutes while recording 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
The sophomore is one of three current Tech players to have earned adidas® OVC Freshman of the Week, having taken home the honor three times in 2014-15 (Dec. 1, Dec. 29, & Mar. 2).
Jugovic was recruited by assistant coach Frank Davis, Tech's all-time career leader in 3-point field goals made (251) and 3-point field goal percentage (.407). The former Tech standout believes Jugovic can break both records in his time in the purple and gold, and the numbers support that claim so far.
SOUTHPAWS
True freshman Courtney Alexander II is changing the hand he shoots with for the second time in his young career. As a prep player, the forward shot primarily with his left hand, making the switch to his right during his senior season. The rookie began the transition back to his left hand for the 2015-16 season in October.
Torrance Rowe also shoots lefthanded and former Golden Eagle and current Graduate Assistant Manger Mitchell Hill was a southpaw during his Tech career as well.
YEAR IN RESIDENCY
Following a redshirt season in 2014-15, Savonte Frazier made his Golden Eagle debut against Piedmont College, dishing out five assists and hitting his lone field goal attempt, a 3-pointer, to finish with three points.
Steve Payne raved about the youngster's improvement over the summer, making note of his improved strength and shooting ability.
Payne also was quick to talk about his strong leadership ability, which he has displayed since day one in Cookeville, which all starts with his drive and toughness.
EARNING A SPOT
A walk-on to the Tech roster back during the 2013-14 season, Mason Ramsey has done plenty to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches in his two season in the purple and gold.
The local Livingston, Tenn. native was awarded a scholarship by Steve Payne following the 2014-15 season, Ramsey's first year of action on the court in Eblen Center.
After redshirting in 2013-14, Ramsey became the first Tech freshman since 1986-87 to open his career with a double-double, posting 14 points and 14 rebounds.
FAMILIAR ROOTS
By far the youngest player on the roster, Micaiah Henry hardly looks like a typical teen that just celebrated his 18th birthday. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, there is plenty to work with in the post for the Tech squad.
The youngster has shown improvement since his arrival on campus, possessing a knack for rebounding and blocking shots, but will sit out the 2015-16 campaign as a redshirt.
He also comes from some familiar territory to the Golden Eagle program, hailing from Columbia High School (Ga.).
TTU legend Lorenzo Coleman, Tech's all-time leader in blocked shots also attended Columbia High School. The post also posted the most double-doubles in program history with 40 in four years.
GOOD GENES
Courtney Alexander II has one of the best role models in which to model his game after that a freshman collegiate player can have. And he lives in the same house.
His father, Courtney Alexander Sr., was the 13th overall selection by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Courtney Sr. went on to play three seasons in the Association, including stints with Dallas, Washington and New Orleans.
In college, he led the NCAA in scoring with 24.8 points per game as a senior at Fresno State.
Alexander II ripped down a career-high seven rebounds at New Mexico State and also dished out two assists.
Photo by Jim Dillon
