By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Struggles on the glass and with consistency on offense proved too much for the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team to overcome Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 83-58, in the championship game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off River Division at Colonial Hall and The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
The tilt was a battle for most of the first half, with the Golden Eagles (3-2) taking the early lead over the opening five minutes of action. The Vaqueros (3-2) answered back, taking their turn on top until the 8:46 mark.
Tech squared the match-up just before the media timeout, but it was as close as the Cookeville crew would come to retake the lead for the remainder of the event. UTRGV made a huge push at the end of the half, turning a two-point edge into a 41-31 advantage heading to the locker room behind a layup and back-to-back triples.
The Vaqueros held the purple and gold at arm's length over the first half of the second stanza, with both sides unable to make much headway on the scoreboard. Foul trouble and a cold stretch from the floor by the Cookeville crew provided just enough room for UTRGV to pull away down the stretch.
During the second half, the Golden Eagles were held to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 26.3 percent from distance. Those totals sat at 37.7 percent from the floor and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc at the end of the game.
UTRGV also boasted decided advantages on the boards and in the paint. The Vaqueros hauled in 47 rebounds, including 16 on the offensive glass, while holding Tech to 24 for the day. UTRGV also scored 42 points in the paint as compared to 24 for the purple and gold.
Junior guard Jaylon Johnson led the Tech effort with 13 points, sinking a trio of treys with three assists, three boards, and a pair of steals. Senior forward Rodney Johnson Jr. joined him in double figures with 12 points and three triples of his own.
Local Rickman, Tenn. native Matthew Sells knocked down three shots from downtown as well, finishing with a season-high nine points off the bench. Junior forward Daniel Egbuniwe, who was named to the Greenbrier Tip-Off River Division All-Tournament Team, produced eight points, a team-high eight rebounds, and three assists in 21 minutes of action. The veteran finished 4-for-8 from the floor while battling foul troubles during the contest.
Next on the docket for the Golden Eagles is a trip to Orlando, Fla. and a Tuesday-night affair with UCF. Tip for the contest is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT at Addition Financial Arena.
Photo courtesy of Greenbrier Tip-Off