By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will put its six-game win streak and 7-2 start to the 2015-16 season to the ultimate test Saturday evening, taking on last year's SEC Tournament runner-up Arkansas for the first time in program history.
The 7 p.m. CST affair marks the second of a three-game road span for the Golden Eagles, who will wrap it up with a Tuesday contest at Chattanooga. Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle with Dylan Vazzano on the call. The contest will also be broadcast by the SEC Network, available on TV and on the WatchESPN app.
Tennessee Tech (7-2) at Arkansas (4-4)
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015
7:00 p.m. CST
Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.
The Broadcasts
TV: SEC Network (Richard Cross & Andrew DeClercq)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Dylan Vazzano)
Webcast: WatchESPN (Richard Cross & Andrew DeClercq)
ABOUT ARKANSAS
Tech keeps its three-game road stretch rolling with a 7 p.m. CST contest at Bud Walton Arena against Arkansas Dec. 12.
Arkansas is in its fifth season under the direction of head coach Mike Anderson.
The Razorbacks are currently 4-4 on the year, coming off an 89-76 victory at home against Evansville.
Last season, Arkansas compiled a 27-9 overall record and 13-5 mark in the Southeastern Conference, finishing second in the regular season standing.
The Razorbacks finished as the SEC Tournament runner-ups after falling to No. 1 Kentucky in the title game and made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
This marks the first ever meeting between the two programs, and will leave just LSU and Texas A&M as the only SEC opponents never match-up against the Golden Eagles.
Dusty Hannahs leads Arkansas in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game off the bench while hitting 50 percent from 3-point range.
Moses Kingsley represents the Razorbacks' post presence, averaging 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
LIPSCOMB RECAP
The Golden Eagles increased their win streak to six games, overcoming a 16-point deficit for an 81-78 victory at in-state rival Lipscomb Saturday evening.
Tech's six-game win streak is the longest for the program since winning seven straight during the 2010-11 season.
At 7-2 on the year, the Golden Eagles are off to their best start since beginning the 2005-06 season 8-2.
Trailing by 14 points at halftime, Tech opened the second half against the Bisons on an 11-0 run.
Tech drained 12 shots from beyond the arc, its highest output from 3-point range since the season-opener.
The Golden Eagles sunk 15-of-18 free throw attempts, marking their seventh game of the year shooting better than 70 percent from the charity stripe.
With the victory, Tech added to its commanding lead in the all-time series between the two programs, which now stands at 41-7 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Senior guard Torrance Rowe played the hero in the contest, notching 19 of his 26 points in the second half, including the game-winning 3-pointer with eight seconds to play.
Senior Ryan Martin collected his third double-double of the season and second straight, recording 18 points and 11 rebounds on 8-for-13 shooting
CAPTAIN COMEBACK
Named one of two team captains following last season, Torrance Rowe has accepted the role as a senior and is leading by example.
For the fourth time in two years, the Golden Eagles completed a comeback of 10 points or more with Rowe making a large impact on the outcome.
After erasing a 16-point deficit that included a 14-point advantage in favor of Lipscomb at the half, the Bisons seemed to have squeezed the air out of the Golden Eagles after Nathan Moran picked Rowe's pocket at half court for a wide open layup and 78-76 lead with 17 seconds to play.
Rowe answered the bell, however, draining the game-winning 3-pointer with just eight seconds left on the scoreboard, his second game-winning three of his career.
Down by 15 points with just over 10 minutes to play Tech rallied to tie in-state rival East Tennessee State with a little over three minutes left thanks to a 3-pointer by Aleksa Jugovic, assisted by Rowe.
The senior guard then hit the final free throw to give Tech its two-point cushion that would eventually result in the final score of 63-61.
With just five seconds remaining on the clock and Tech trailing Jackson State 71-69, Rowe raced the length of the court just in time to toss in a layup and beat the buzzer to knot things at 71. Tech overcame a 10-point, second-half deficit to defeat the Tigers 86-82 in overtime.
Rowe scored 17 of the team's final 28 points, all coming with less than three minutes to play in the second half.
Familiar with rallying his troops, Rowe showed the ability to put the team on his back last season in a thrilling, comeback victory over Chattanooga.
Trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, the senior scored a then-career-high 18 points in leading the Golden Eagles to a 69-67 victory.
With the score tied at 65 with 30 seconds remaining, he drilled the game-winning three to cap the remarkable turnaround.
Through seven games, Rowe leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.6 points per game, good enough for fourth in the OVC.
T-Rowe owns an 87.2 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 40 assists while playing over 32 minutes per game.
BIG ANT'S BLOCK PARTY
Adept at rejecting an opponent's attempt at the bucket since his arrival to the Tech squad in 2012, Anthony Morse has quietly climbed his way up the all-time list for career blocks.
After blocking four more shots at Lipscomb, Morse now has 74 in his career and ranks 10th all-time in Tennessee Tech history, needing just four more to move into ninth place.
At the conclusion of his career in 1997, only three players (Adonal Foyle, Tim Duncan, and Alonzo Mourning) had more blocks in NCAA history than Tech's all-time leader, the late, great Lorenzo Coleman. With 439 rejections in four seasons, he still sits 12th all-time.
After establishing a new career-high in points in Tech's season-opening victory against Piedmont College with 13, Morse reset the mark by scoring 14 at Air Force.
The senior also corralled a career-high 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, recording his first career double-double.
On the year, Morse ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 2.6 blocks per game and also sits in the top 10 in field goal percentage at a mark of .543.
ONE SHOT, ONE OPPORTUNITY
After receiving just one year of eligibility from the NCAA following his transfer from South Plains College, Ryan Martin is out to make the most of his lone season at the Division I level.
The native of London, England was heavily recruited by St. John's University and drew interest from Arizona State, Gonzaga, VCU, Utah State and Louisiana, but the uncertainty of his status with the NCAA cooled most teams away from the big man.
Martin practiced all of last season with the Golden Eagles and participated in Tech's exhibition contest against Bluefield College.
Steve Payne loves Martin's energy level, raving about a motor that never seems to quit. He likes that the Brit plays with emotion and can use it to his advantage.
The senior possesses great rebounding ability and the option to step back and knock down shots from beyond the arc.
In his Golden Eagle debut, Martin tallied 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and hauled in five rebounds with just 23 minutes of action.
Against Robert Morris, Martin posted tied his career-high in points with 20 and added 10 boards. It marked his first double-double.
He tallied his third career double-double and second in as many games with 18 points and 11 boards at Lipscomb.
On the year, Martin is averaging 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. He ranks fourth on the Golden Eagles and ninth in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting at an .807 clip.
GIVE ME SOME SUGAR
Making just his fourth career start, Aleksa Jugovic enjoyed his best performance in the purple and gold in the season-opener, exploding for a career-high 20 points while dishing out five assists with no turnovers.
The sophomore shot 8-of-9 from the field while knocking down 4-of-5 3-pointers.
He tied his career-high with 20 points against Robert Morris, flirting with a triple-double with seven boards and six assists.
Fans can follow Jugovic on Twitter under his handle/nickname @SerbianSugar.
Between his junior and senior years in high school, Jugovic starred for the Serbian U-18 national team, starting at point guard at the 2013 FIBA Europe U-18 Championships.
He averaged a team-high 30.2 minutes while recording 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
The sophomore is one of three current Tech players to have earned adidas® OVC Freshman of the Week, having taken home the honor three times in 2014-15 (Dec. 1, Dec. 29, & Mar. 2).
Jugovic was recruited by assistant coach Frank Davis, Tech's all-time career leader in 3-point field goals made (251) and 3-point field goal percentage (.407). The former Tech standout believes Jugovic can break both records in his time in a Tech uniform, and the numbers support that claim so far.
On the year, Jugovic owns a 2.8 assist/turnover ratio, ranking second in the OVC. He also ranks third on the Golden Eagles averaging 10.1 points per game.
YEAR IN RESIDENCY
Following a redshirt season in 2014-15, Savonte Frazier made his Golden Eagle debut against Piedmont College, dishing out five assists and hitting his lone field goal attempt, a 3-pointer, to finish with three points.
Steve Payne raved about the youngster's improvement over the summer, making note of his improved strength and shooting ability.
Payne also was quick to talk about his strong leadership ability, which he has displayed since day one in Cookeville, which all starts with his drive and toughness.
The rookie dished out five more dimes against UC Clermont, giving him two five-plus assist games on the year.
GOOD GENES
Courtney Alexander II has one of the best role models in which to model his game after that a freshman collegiate player can have. And he lives in the same house.
His father, Courtney Alexander Sr., was the 13th overall selection by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Courtney Sr. went on to play three seasons in the Association, including stints with Dallas, Washington and New Orleans.
In college, he led the NCAA in scoring with 24.8 points per game as a senior at Fresno State.
Alexander II notched his first career double-double against Mississippi Valley State, posting career-highs with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He has four games with seven or more boards this season.
SOUTHPAWS
True freshman Courtney Alexander II is changing the hand he shoots with for the second time in his young career. As a prep player, the forward shot primarily with his left hand, making the switch to his right during his senior season. The rookie began the transition back to his left hand for the 2015-16 season in October.
Torrance Rowe also shoots left-handed and former Golden Eagle and current Graduate Assistant Manager Mitchell Hill was a southpaw during his Tech career as well.
EARNING A SPOT
A walk-on to the Tech roster back during the 2013-14 season, Mason Ramsey has done plenty to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches in his two season in the purple and gold.
The local Livingston, Tenn. native was awarded a scholarship by Steve Payne following the 2014-15 season, Ramsey's first year of action on the court in Eblen Center.
After redshirting in 2013-14, Ramsey became the first Tech freshman since 1986-87 to open his career with a double-double, posting 14 points and 14 rebounds.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
Steve Payne listed Shirmane Thomas as the top defender heading into the 2015-16 Tech squad, citing his physical strength, toughness and willingness to stick his nose in there and get a stop.
The guard has notched eight steals and three blocks so far while grabbing 3.6 rebounds.
Photo by Jim Dillon
