Wildcat Chase Dunn heading home to play

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech has added a game to the men’s basketball schedule, replacing a contest that was postponed a couple of weeks back.

The Golden Eagles will host Hiwassee College on Thursday (Dec. 16) in a game to be played at Livingston Academy. The game will begin at 7 p.m. CT.

Not only will it give Tech fans in the Upper Cumberland region an additional opportunity to see the Golden Eagles play, redshirt freshman Chase Dunn will return to the high school gym where he set the Livingston Academy career scoring record.

“This is going to be an exciting night for Chase, and a great opportunity for our team and our fans in the region,” coach Mike Sutton said. “Chase gets to go home and play in front of the fans who followed his tremendous high school career. Our players are excited about an opportunity to play another game close to home and possibly attract some fans who may have never seen a Golden Eagle basketball game.”

Tech’s home game against Appalachian State was postponed on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and will not be rescheduled during the 2010-2011 season.

The game against Hiwassee could not be played in Tech’s home venue, Eblen Center, since the facility will be set up all week for hosting Fall Commencement ceremonies on Saturday (Dec. 18).

All of Tennessee Tech’s basketball season tickets will be honored at the game in Livingston, and Tech students will be admitted free with a valid TTU ID.

All seating will be general admission, with tickets priced at $5 per person. Tickets will be available in advance at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or online at TTUsports.com.

Tickets are also on sale in advance at Livingston Academy, and Thursday night at the game. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Fans holding tickets to the Appalachian State game may trade those tickets in and receive two tickets to the Hiwassee game in Livingston.

A 2009 graduate of Livingston Academy, Dunn was an all-state selection and Tennessee Mr. Basketball finalist following his senior season for the Wildcats. Named the District 7-AA Player of the Year and Region 4-AA MVP, he was chosen a three-time Upper Cumberland Player of the Year by the Cookeville Herald-Citizen.

In his senior campaign, Dunn averaged 22 points and four assists per game, after notching 23 points per game as a junior and 20 per outing as a sophomore. He finished with 2,508 career points for the school record, including a career-best 49-point explosion in the Region 4-AA semifinals as a junior.

He was a redshirt on the Golden Eagle roster in 2009-10 in his first season at Tech, and this year has played in all six of Tech’s games, averaging 5.7 points and 12.7 minutes per contest. He ranks second on the team in 3-pointers made and steals, and third in free throw percentage.

For additional information on tickets, please call the Athletics Ticket Office at (931) 372-3940.