By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Torrance Rowe scored a career-high 36 points, including a layup at the buzzer in regulation to keep the Golden Eagle hopes alive, and Ryan Martin netted a career-high 20 points as Tennessee Tech (2-2) overcame a huge rebounding deficit to claim a thrilling 86-82 victory over Jackson State (1-4) in overtime Tuesday night in Eblen Center.
The Golden Eagles trailed by 10 with under four minutes to play and by six points with 2:31 remaining in regulation.
Rowe raced the length of the floor in the final 5.2 seconds of regulation, swerved between two defenders in the lane, and hit a reverse layup that just beat the buzzer to send the game to overtime tied at 71-71.
In the extra period, the Golden Eagles had a 7-2 edge on the boards, reversing what had been Jackson State's domination on the glass throughout the contest. JSU had 28 offensive rebounds and 56 overall in the game, finishing regulation with a 54-33 edge.
Tech had tied it at 69-69 on Martin's 3-pointer with 13 seconds left before Raeford Worsham put the Tigers ahead with, what else, a tip-in on a missed shot for a 71-69 lead to set the stage for Rowe's dash.
After a couple of early ties in the extra period, Anthony Morse (photo above) hit two free throws that put Tech ahead for good, 77-75. Rowe followed with a 3-pointer for an 80-75 lead, then made four straight free throws.
A 3-pointer at the buzzer by JSU's Tony Stancil cut the final margin to four.
JSU held a narrow, 36-33 lead at halftime, thanks in large part to 11 second-chance points. The Tigers owned a 23-12 advantage in rebounds, including 10 on the offensive boards.
Jackson State's huge advantage in rebounds allowed the Tigers to push their three-point lead into double digits in the second half, but Tech never allowed the difference to climb beyond 10. The last 10-point JSU lead came with four minutes to play, 66-56, on a 3-pointer by Paris Collins.
The Golden Eagles closed regulation with a 15-5 run to tie the game, with the string started by a Rowe jumper. He also added four free throws in the run, before Martin's first 3-pointer of the night tied it with 13 seconds to play.
Up to that point, Tech had trailed since the Tigers broke a 38-38 tie on Chace Franklin's jumper with 17:11 left in the second half.
Rowe was 9-for-18 from the field and 15-for-17 at the free throw line, finishing with 35 points along with five rebounds and five assists. Martin hit 11-of-13 at the line on his way to 20 points, and grabbed nine rebounds. Morse finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
It was the first 35-point game by a Golden Eagle since Belton Rivers hit 35 against Northwestern State on Feb. 17, 2007.
Collins topped JSU with 21 points, along with six rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out. Franklin had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Worsham added a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot 41.5 percent from the field (22-for-53) and went 37-for-45 at the free throw line for 82.2 percent. It was the first time a Tech team had made at least 35 free throws in a game since Nov. 3, 2007.
JSU shot 37.2 percent (32-for-86) for the game, including 12-for-30 from long range for 40 percent.
Tech's busy Thanksgiving week continues this weekend when the Golden Eagles host four games in three days. Tech will host Robert Morris Friday at 6 p.m. to open the action with the team's third of four games in the Air Force Classic.
On Saturday, Tech hosts UC Clermont at 5:30 p.m., while Robert Morris and Mississippi Valley State clash in the nightcap at 730 p.m.
The weekend wraps up Sunday afternoon with the final game in the Air Force Classic as Tech hosts Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m.
For ticket information, please call (931) 372-3940 or visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center. The ticket office will be close Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will open Friday, Saturday and Sunday one hour before tipoff.
GOLDEN NUGGETS: The game was a geography lesson of sorts, featuring players from 10 different states and the District of Columbia, plus international players from Serbia, England, France, Australia and the Bahamas (plus one player named Paris)…for Jackson State, the game concluded a five-game road trip to open the season, while it opened a five-game homestand for the Golden Eagles…it was the first time Tech has overcome a second-half, 10-point deficit to win since the Golden Eagles defeated Eastern Kentucky in overtime, 83-81, on Jan. 24, 2015 after trailing 41-30.
