By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Still in the fight for a spot in March's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will look for its third straight home victory Thursday evening as it hosts Tennessee State in a 7 p.m. CST tilt.
Following a 4:15 p.m. contest by the Golden Eagle women's team, the Tech men's squad will kick off the late action with a rematch with the Tigers. The contest will televised by the American Sports Network with a list of every channel the game will be shown on located here.
All fans attending the Tennessee Tech basketball doubleheader on Thursday are encouraged to wear gold to Eblen Center, and the first 1,500 fans into the arena will receive a free "Gold Rush" t-shirt when the Golden Eagles host Tennessee State in an Ohio Valley Conference twinbill. The evening is also 98.5 KISS FM Night.
For additional information on any of the events scheduled that night, or ticket information for the remainder of the season, please call (931) 372-3940.
Tennessee Tech (11-13, 3-8) vs. Tennessee State (5-20, 2-8)
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
7:00 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (9,250) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: American Sports Network (Dave Armstrong & Tim Scarborough)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: None
SETTING THE STAGE
The Golden Eagles fell in the most recent match-up in the series as the Tigers claimed a 64-56 victory in Nashville behind a surprisingly staggering defense. The loss tilted the all-time series lead every so slightly in favor of Tennessee State at 30-29.
The Tigers will have to leave the friendly confines of the Gentry Center behind, where the team shot a scorching 49 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc in January's match-up.
Posing a big threat is sure to be senior guard Jay Harris, who led the Tigers with 19 points earlier this season. Harris connected on five of his seven 3-point attempts in the game to propel TSU to the win.
Tech will look to use the crowd to its advantage and keep its home court advantage rolling. The Golden Eagles are 9-3 in the Eblen Center this season.
A big key for the Golden Eagles will be to get their points down low. In nine of Tech's 11 victories this season, the team has scored at least 30 points in the paint. The other two wins saw totals of 28 and 26 points as well. The Golden Eagles have lost just three games they have put up at least 30 points in the paint, and none since a close, three-point loss to UT Martin.
Tech was able to get its paint presence established against Jacksonville State last weekend, thanks to the leadership of junior big man Charles Jackson. The center recorded his OVC-leading 15th double-double of the year while tying a career-high mark with 16 rebounds.
Jackson leads the Golden Eagles in scoring (13.3 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg), blocks (32), steals (23) and field goal percentage (.594) this season and will look to lead Tech to another victory.
Photo by Jim Dillon
