By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will put its four-game win streak to the test Wednesday evening when the Golden Eagles play host to in-state rival East Tennessee State in a 6 p.m. CST tilt.
The contest marks the 74th meeting all-time between the two programs and represents Tech's final contest as part of a five-game home stand. Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle with Roger Ealey on the call or follow via live webstream on the OVC Digital Network with Marc Graham broadcasting the contest.
Tennessee Tech (5-2) vs. East Tennessee State (3-3)
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015
6:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: Golden Eagle Sports Network on the OVC Digital Network (Marc Graham)
ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Tech rounds out its five-game home stand by hosting in-state rival East Tennessee State in the Eblen Center, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. CST.
East Tennessee State is in its first season under the direction of head coach Steve Forbes.
The Buccaneers enter the contest at 3-3 on the year, coming off back-to-back losses, at Charleston Southern, 77-76, and against UNC-Wilmington, 94-73.
Last season, ETSU compiled a 16-14 overall record and 8-10 mark in the Southern Conference.
The Golden Eagles and Buccaneers have met 73 times in their respective histories, with East Tennessee State owning the slightest of advantages in the series, a 37-36 lead.
After winning three straight against its in-state rival, Tech fell on the road at ETSU last season, 87-79.
Ge'Lawn Guyn leads the Bucs in scoring on the year, averaging 19.8 points per game on 44 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE RECAP
The Golden Eagles kept their non-conference home win streak alive with their 14th straight victory, a 101-64 victory over Mississippi Valley State Sunday afternoon.
It also represented Tech's fourth straight win of the season and a perfect 5-0 start at home in 2015-16
All 12 Tech players that saw the court recorded at least three points and one rebound.
The Golden Eagles were nearly perfect at the charity stripe, sinking 17 of their 19 attempts. Tech is now shooting 77.7 percent at the line, easily leading the OVC and good enough for 15th in the nation.
After tying its season-high with 25 assists, the 2015-16 Tech squad became the first team in program history to post 25 or more dimes in back-to-back games.
With the victory, Tech moved to 3-1 all-time against the Delta Devils and 6-2 all-time against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Freshman Courtney Alexander II continued his stellar rookie campaign, recording his first career double-double with career highs in points (14) and boards (10).
Fellow freshman Tre Hansbrough put on a clinic in dishing out the rock with a career-best eight assists. He added nine points as well.
Senior Torrance Rowe took home adidas® OVC Player of the Week honors after his fantastic week that saw him average 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting a hot 87.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Senior forward Ryan Martin earned adidas® OVC Newcomer of the Week accolades after posting averages of 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while also shooting 62.5 percent from the field and a blistering 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
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.
Through seven games, Rowe leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.3 points per game, good enough for fourth in the OVC.
T-Rowe owns an 86.1 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 31 assists while playing over 30 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 third in the Ohio Valley Conference in field goal percentage, connecting on 64.9 percent of his shots. He also ranks second in blocked shots with 2.1 per game.
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 three more shots against the Cougars, Morse now has 66 in his career and is tied with his former teammate Dennis Ogbe for 10th all-time in Tennessee 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 Robert Morris, Martin posted tied his career-high in points with 20 and set his new career standard for rebounds with 10. It marked his first double-double.
On the year, Martin is averaging 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also ranks third on the Golden Eagles in free throw percentage hitting at an .833 clip.
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 4-of-5 3-pointers.
He tied his career-high with 20 points against Robert Morris, flirting with a triple-double with seven boards and six assists.
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 a Tech uniform, and the numbers support that claim so far.
On the year, Jugovic owns an incredible 4.8 assist/turnover ratio, ranking second in the OVC. He also ranks third on the Golden Eagles averaging 10.1 points per game.
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.
The rookie dished out five more dimes against UC Clermont, giving him two five-plus assist games on the year.
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.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
Steve Payne listed Shirmane Thomas as the top defender heading into the 2015-16 Tech squad, citing his physical strength, toughness and willingness to stick his nose in there and get a stop.
The guard has notched five steals and three blocks so far while grabbing 3.1 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 notched his first career double-double against Mississippi Valley State, scoring a career-high 14 points and hauling in a career-best 10 rebounds. He has four games with seven or more boards this season, including four of the past five games.
Photo by Jim Dillon
