By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the fourth time this season, the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team fought back from a double-digit deficit, outlasting Miami (Ohio) 77-64 Friday night in Eblen Center.

Tech (8-4) wrapped up a perfect non-conference home record this season (7-0) and posted its 16^th consecutive non-conference win in Eblen Center.  It was the first meeting for the Golden Eagles with Miami (6-5), a team from the Mid-America Conference.

Down 36-25 at halftime, Tech opened the second half with an 11-0 run to tie the contest. The Golden Eagles outscored the RedHawks 52-28 in the second half, shooting 60 percent in the second stanza including 50 percent (5-for-10) from outside the arc.

Torrance Rowe sparked the attack with a game-high 23 points along with four assists, while Hakeem Rogers came off the bench to add 19 points and two steals. Ryan Martin finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, plus two assists, a steal and a blocked shot. Martin was 6-for-7 shooting and 4-for-5 at the free throw line.

Miami had four players in double figures, topped by LJ Livingston with 16 points and eight rebounds. Eric Washington added 14 points and five assists, while Rod Mills scored 12 and Geovonie McKnight produced 10 points and four assists.

Miami led for most of the first half, and opened the margin to double figures late in the period before heading to the break on top by 11, 36-26. The largest lead of the half was at 12 points. The RedHawks shot 52 percent in the first half, including 4-for-9 from long range.

A three-point play by Shirmane Thomas opened Tech's second half, and Rowe hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cap the 11-0 run that tied the game at 36-all.

The RedHawks regained their lead, going up 47-40 on a layup by McCormick with 11:52 to play.

Rogers' 3-pointer ignited a 14-3 Tech run that pushed the Golden Eagles ahead to stay. A highlight of the run was a 3-pointer by Rowe with 8:35 left that tied the contest at 50-50.

Up by two, Martin snapped down an offensive rebound and followed with a layup with 3:08 left for a 62-58 lead.  Aleksa Jugovic hit a jumper and Martin a jumper, before two free throws from Rogers made it an 11-point Tech lead with 1:03 to play.

From there the Golden Eagles finished by hitting 7-for-8 at the free throw line to preserve the win.
Just one non-conference game remains on the Golden Eagle schedule before opening Ohio Valley Conference action on Dec. 31. Tech hits the road for a Tuesday night clash with the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. with the game set for telecast on ESPN3.