By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Let Ohio Valley Conference play commence! The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will kick off its OVC slate Thursday evening, playing host to Eastern Illinois in a New Year's Eve doubleheader with the Golden Eagle women's squad.
The 3 p.m. CST contest represents the 38th meeting all time between the two programs, with Tech owning a 23-14 advantage. Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle with Roger Ealey on the call or follow live via webstream on the OVC Digital Network with play-by-play from Dylan Vazzano.
Tennessee Tech (8-5) vs. Eastern Illinois (3-9)
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015
3:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (7,500) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
ABOUT EASTERN ILLINOIS
Tech kicks off its Ohio Valley Conference schedule by returning to the Eblen Center to host Eastern Illinois in a New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) match-up starting at 3 p.m. CST.
Eastern Illinois is in its fourth season under the direction of head coach Jay Spoonhour.
The Panthers are currently 3-9 on the year, coming off a 78-53 home victory over Hannibal-LaGrange.
EIU owns wins over Indiana State (68-62), Northern Kentucky (79-73 OT) and Hannibal-LaGrange (78-53).
The Panthers have suffered losses at #15 Indiana (88-49), at Ball State (73-56), to Western Illinois (83-63), to Green Bay (81-72), at Marshall (82-76), at Western Illinois (64-57), at Houston (81-65), versus Omaha (80-68) and versus North Carolina Central (57-52).
Last season, EIU compiled a 18-15 overall record and 9-7 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, finishing 3rd in the West Division regular season standings and making it to the second round of the CIT.
This marks the 38th meeting all-time between the two programs. Eastern Illinois claimed last season's match-up with a 61-59 victory in Charleston, Ill.
Tae Anderson leads the Panthers in scoring with 14.5 points per game and rebounding with 5.2 boards per contest.
Leading EIU in assists has been last season's OVC Freshman of the Year, Cornell Johnston, who has dished out 47 dimes thus far.
Also big for Eastern Illinois offensively has been A.J. Riley, averaging 11.8 points per game as well as 3.8 rebounds.
IOWA RECAP
Tech came up short in its non-conference finale, falling at the University of Iowa, 85-63.
At 8-5 on the year, the Golden Eagles completed their second straight season with eight non-conference victories.
Iowa was consistent throughout the contest, shooting roughly 45 percent from the field all game. The Hawkeyes also forced Tech into 18 turnovers, turning them into 17 points.
A tightly contested affair through much of the first half, the Hawkeyes caught fire down the stretch leading into the break, turning a 12-12 tie into a 43-21 halftime advantage.
Each side put up 42 points in the final 20 minutes.
On the glass, Iowa owned a slight 41-37 advantage, including a three-board swing on the offensive end.
Iowa's Peter Jok led all scorers with 21 points, hitting five of his 10 3-point attempts.
Nicholas Baer was huge off the bench for the Hawkeyes, sinking 8-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, to the tune of 19 points. He added five rebounds.
Junior guard Hakeem Rogers continued his strong play that led to his first OVC Newcomer of the Week honors a week ago by scoring 13 points and corralling a career-high six rebounds. He added three assists and two steals as well.
Senior guard Torrance Rowe led the Golden Eagles with 15 points, hitting all five of his free throw attempts while also dishing out three assists and grabbing four boards.
Shirmane Thomas also hauled in a career-high in rebounds, snatching seven off the defensive glass. He added five points to the mix as well.
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.
For the seventh time in two years, the Golden Eagles completed a comeback of 10 points or more with Rowe making a large impact on the outcome.
Facing Miami (Ohio) at home, the Rowe led Tech back from a 12-point deficit thanks to five 3-pointers and 23 total points, including 13 in the second half.
After erasing a 16-point deficit that included a 14-point advantage in favor of Lipscomb at the half, the Bisons' Nathan Moran picked Rowe's pocket at half court for a wide open layup and 78-76 lead with 17 seconds to play.
Rowe answered the bell, however, draining the game-winning 3-pointer with just eight seconds left on the scoreboard, his second game-winning three of his career.
Down by 15 points with just over 10 minutes to play Tech rallied to tie in-state rival East Tennessee State with a little over three minutes left thanks to a 3-pointer by Aleksa Jugovic, assisted by Rowe.
The senior guard then hit the final free throw to give Tech its two-point cushion that would eventually result in the final score of 63-61.
With just five seconds remaining on the clock and Tech trailing Jackson State 71-69, 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.
This season, Rowe leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16.7 points per game, good enough to rank fifth in the OVC, and with 4.4 assists per game, good enough for second in the league.
T-Rowe owns an 88.3 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 57 assists while playing over 33 minutes per game.
BIG ANT'S BLOCK PARTY
Adept at rejecting an opponent's shot attempt around the bucket since his arrival to Cookeville in 2012, Anthony Morse has quietly climbed his way up the all-time list for career blocks.
After blocking two more shots at Chattanooga, Morse now has 80 in his career and has passed Bobby Porter for eighth place all-time in Tennessee Tech history. He needs just five more blocks to move into sole possession of seventh place.
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.
After establishing a new career-high in points in Tech's season-opening victory against Piedmont College with 13, 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 first in the Ohio Valley Conference and 33rd in the nation with 2.2 blocks per game. His 29 total rejections ranks 24th in the country. He also sits in the top 10 in the league in rebounding with 5.9 boards per game.
GIVE ME SOME SUGAR
Off to a strong start in his sophomore campaign, Aleksa Jugovic ranks as the third highest scorer on the Golden Eagle roster.
The native of Serbia owns two 20-point outings to his credit this season, both representing his career-high output.
On the year, Jugovic owns a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio, ranking first on the team among qualified players.
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.
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. John'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.
Against Robert Morris, Martin tied his career-high in points with 20 and added 10 boards. It marked his first double-double.
He tallied his third career double-double and second in as many games with 18 points and 11 boards at Lipscomb.
On the year, Martin is averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds, the best mark on the team and sixth best in the league. He ranks 10th in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting at an .783 clip.
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.
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, posting career-highs with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He has four games with seven or more boards this season.
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 left-handed and former Golden Eagle and current Graduate Assistant Manager Mitchell Hill was a southpaw during his Tech career as well.
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 13 steals and three blocks so far while grabbing 3.6 rebounds per game, including a career-high seven at Iowa.
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.
TECH PICKED 4th IN OVC EAST
Tech was predicted to finish 4th in the East Division in the 2016 OVC race in voting by the league's head coaches and SIDs.
Photo by Jim Dillon
