By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A new year may be in place, but the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will look to continue the hot trend it started in 2015 when the Golden Eagles continue Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday evening by hosting SIUE at 7:30 p.m. CST.
Just the ninth meeting in the all-time series, Tech will look to keep its perfect mark in the Eblen Center spotless with a victory over the Cougars. The Golden Eagles are also looking for their first 2-0 start to league play since the 2010-11 season. Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle with Roger Ealey on the call or follow live via webstream on the OVC Digital Network with play-by-play from Dylan Vazzano.
Tennessee Tech (9-5) vs. SIUE (3-10)
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016
7:30 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (7,500) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
ABOUT SIUE
Tech continues its Ohio Valley Conference opening weekend by playing host to SIUE Jan. 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. CST.
SIUE is in its first season under the direction of head coach Jon Harris.
The Cougars are currently 3-10 on the year, coming off three straight losses at USC, against Grand Canyon and at Jacksonville State in their OVC opener.
SIUE owns wins over Arkansas State (79-70), at Southern Illinois (76-74) and Portland State.
The Cougars have suffered losses against Saint Louis (70-60), at IPFW (87-67), against Campbell (77-74), at Butler (89-73), against Green Bay (87-69), at Milwaukee (64-51), at Northwestern (81-56), at USC (70-51), against Grand Canyon (86-75) and at Jacksonville State (72-67).
Last season, SIUE compiled a 12-16 overall record and 8-8 mark in the OVC, finishing 4th in the West Division regular season standings.
This marks the ninth meeting all-time between the two programs. SIUE claimed last season's match-up with a 85-62 victory in Edwardsville, Ill.
Burak Eslik leads the Cougars in scoring with 13.6 points per game and is hitting a team-high 81.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Leading SIUE in rebounds is Yemi Makanjuola, hauling in 5.8 boards per game.
Also big for SIUE offensively has been Grant Fiorentinos, averaging 10.0 points per game as well as 4.5 rebounds.
EASTERN ILLINOIS RECAP
Tech collected its ninth victory of the 2015-16 season Thursday, opening up OVC play with a 94-84 victory over Eastern Illinois in the Eblen Center.
With the win, the Golden Eagles moved to a perfect 9-0 record in the comfort of the Eblen Center, the team's best mark at home since going 13-0 in 2004-05.
Tech shot a staggering 62.7 percent from the field and a blistering 54.2 percent from deep, the team's best performance from downtown since hitting 57.1 percent (8-for-14) against Utah Valley on Nov. 30, 2013.
The team's 62.7 field goal percentage represented the highest mark since shooting 64.4 percent in a 94-64 victory over Reinhardt College on Nov. 15, 2011.
Tech's 23 assists marked the fourth time of the 2015-16 season that the squad dished out at least 20 dimes in a contest, doing so in victories over Piedmont College, UC Clermont and Mississippi Valley State.
Sophomore Aleksa Jugovic torched the nets to the tune of a career-high 26 points, thanks to 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range, 8-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 showing from the charity stripe.
He also doled out a career-best seven assists, as did junior guard Shirmane Thomas.
Torrance Rowe blasted the scoreboard with 18 second-half points to finish with 21 for the game. He also hit five treys on the day (on nine attempts) and posted four dimes while finished 7-for-12 from the field.
Ryan Martin battled inside the paint and stepped out for a couple of deep bombs, notching his third 20-point performance of the season. He finished 8-of-15 from the field in 30 minutes of action.
Fellow big man Anthony Morse took care of the dirty business on the glass, hauling in a career-high 14 rebounds while also finishing a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and rejecting three shots.
Jugovic, Rowe and Martin all notched 20 or more points, becoming the first Tech trio to accomplish the feat since Jan. 5, 2012. In a contest against Tennessee State, Jud Dillard (29), Kevin Murphy (29) and Zac Swansey (20) also accomplished the feat.
CAPTAIN COMEBACK
Named one of two team captains following last season, Torrance Rowe has accepted the role again and is leading by example.
For the seventh time in two years, the Golden Eagles completed a comeback of 10 points or more with Rowe making a large impact on the outcome.
Facing Miami (Ohio) at home, the Rowe led Tech back from a 12-point deficit thanks to five 3-pointers and 23 total points, including 13 in the second half.
After erasing a 16-point deficit that included a 14-point advantage in favor of Lipscomb at the half, the Bisons' 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.
This season, Rowe leads Tech in scoring with 17.0 points per game, good enough to rank fifth in the OVC, and with 4.4 assists per game, good enough for second in the league.
T-Rowe owns an 85.9 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 61 assists while playing over 33 minutes per game.
BIG ANT'S BLOCK PARTY
dept at rejecting an opponent's shot attempt around the bucket since his arrival to Cookeville in 2012, Anthony Morse has quietly climbed his way up the all-time list for career blocks.
After blocking three more shots against Eastern Illinois, Morse now has 83 in his career and has passed Bobby Porter for eighth place all-time in Tennessee Tech history. He needs just two more blocks to move into sole possession of seventh 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 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, recording his first career double-double.
Against Eastern Illinois, Morse hauled in 14 rebounds for a new career-best mark.
On the year, Morse ranks first in the Ohio Valley Conference and 32nd in the nation with 2.3 blocks per game. His 32 total rejections ranks 21st in the country. He also sits in the top 10 in the league in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game.
GIVE ME SOME SUGAR
Off to a strong start in his sophomore campaign, Aleksa Jugovic ranks as the third highest scorer on the Golden Eagle roster.
The native of Serbia owns three 20-point outings to his credit this season, including his career-high 26 coming against Eastern Illinois. Jugovic went 8-of-11 from the field while hitting 5-of-8 3-pointers and all five free throw attempts. He also posted a career-high with seven 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.
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.
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 played 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.
Against Robert Morris, Martin 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 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, the best mark on the team and sixth best in the league. He ranks 10th in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting at an .789 clip.
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.
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.
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.
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 13 steals and three blocks so far while grabbing 3.5 rebounds per game, including a career-high seven at Iowa.
FAMILIAR ROOTS
By far the youngest player on the roster, Micaiah Henry hardly looks like a typical teen that just celebrated his 18th birthday. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, there is plenty to work with in the post for the Tech squad.
The youngster has shown improvement since his arrival on campus, possessing a knack for rebounding and blocking shots, but will sit out the 2015-16 campaign as a redshirt.
He also comes from some familiar territory to the Golden Eagle program, hailing from Columbia High School (Ga.).
TTU legend Lorenzo Coleman, Tech's all-time leader in blocked shots also attended Columbia High School. The post also posted the most double-doubles in program history with 40 in four years.
Photo by Andy Mitchell
