By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Big men Ryan Martin and Anthony Morse each posted career scoring highs to lead Tennessee Tech (10-5/2-0 OVC) to a convincing 86-63 Ohio Valley Conference victory over SIUE (3-11/0-2 OVC) Saturday night in Eblen Center.

Martin drained 26 points and Morse added 17 as the Golden Eagles enjoyed a 44-22 scoring advantage in the paint to notch their ninth consecutive homecourt victory to open the season.

Tech also received a little R&R from the backcourt; Torrance Rowe and Hakeem Rogers scored 12 points each in the victory. Aleksa Jugovic chipped in with a career-high eight assists.

Carlos Anderson was the lone Cougar to score in double figures, finishing with 16 points.

The inside game allowed Tech to shoot a blistering 57.4 percent from the field, going 31-for-54 including 40 percent (8-for-20) from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles also scorched the net from the free throw line, hitting 80 percent (16-for-20).

Another key ingredient in Tech's recipe for success was defense. The Golden Eagles limited SIUE to 39.2 percent shooting (20-for-51).

Tech established a double-figure lead in the first five minutes, going up 16-6 to open the contest.

The Cougars put together an 11-2 run to go from a 14-point deficit to scratch their way to within five points, 32-27, with 4:47 to play in the first half.

Tech closed the half with a 10-2 run to take a 42-29 lead into halftime.

A 10-2 Tech run midway in the second half opened the gap to 20 points, 60-40. The largest difference in the contest was 25 points, which Tech registered three times in the final 5:40.

Morse was 7-for-9 from the field and added seven assists and one blocked shot, pushing him into a tie for seventh all-time in blocked shots.

Tech faces three straight OVC road battles, with a 7 p.m. tilt at Murray State Thursday and a 7 p.m. contest at Austin Peay Saturday night.