By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Finally back home after a grueling three-game road swing, the Tennessee Tech basketball team will host Ohio Valley Conference foe Southeast Missouri Saturday evening in a brief respite before hitting the highway again next week.
The 7:30 p.m. CST start will pit the Golden Eagles against the Redhawks for the 48th time, a series the purple and gold has dominated with a 31-16 advantage. Tech is looking to rally after being dealt its first loss in league play at UT Martin Wednesday.
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 broadcast by Dylan Vazzano. One more option for fans is to watch the game at home on the tube with WCTE televising its first basketball action of the season during the night's doubleheader. The TTU women's squad will kick off the night at 5:30 p.m., also against SEMO.
WCTE will stream three more men's game during the 2015-16 campaign, including the Jan. 30 doubleheader against Belmont, the Feb. 13 doubleheader against Jacksonville State and the Feb. 27 doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky.
The event features some special promotions, including Cumberland County and White County Night, with one dollar admission available to residents of those two neighboring counties. It is also Youth Basketball Night, with free admission to youth players and coaches, and three dollar tickets available to family members of the youth players.
For ticket information, visit or call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center (931-372-3940).
Tennessee Tech (12-6, 4-1) vs. Southeast Missouri (2-15, 0-5)
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016
7:30 p.m. CST
Eblen Center (7,500) – Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: WCTE (Tim Scruggs & Joe Sims)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
ABOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Tech returns home for one quick game before heading back on the road, playing host to Southeast Missouri Jan. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. CST tilt.
Southeast Missouri is in its first season under the direction of head coach Rick Ray.
The Redhawks are currently 2-15 overall and 0-5 in OVC play, coming off a home loss to Jacksonville State Wednesday evening.
This season, Southeast Missouri is 1-6 at home and 1-9 on the road.
Last season, the Redhawks compiled a 13-17 overall record and 7-9 mark in the OVC, finishing 5th in the West Division regular season standings and eighth overall.
This marks the 48th meeting all-time between the two programs, with Tech owning a commanding 31-16 advantage. TTU is 20-5 all-time against SEMO in Cookeville.
The Redhawks claimed last season's match-up with a 65-61 victory in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the team's third straight win in the series.
Southeast Missouri is led by Antonius Cleveland, who posts team-bests with 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He adds just over two assists per game as well.
Isiah Jones adds 10.9 points per game to the mix and leads the Redhawks with 3.1 assists per game.
Joel Angus III also scores in double figures, averaging 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
UT MARTIN RECAP
Tech was dealt its first loss in OVC play at UT Martin, falling to the Skyhawks, 96-90, in an old-fashioned shootout in the Elam Center.
The two teams combined to hit 26 shots from downtown, with the Skyhawks sinking 64 percent and the Golden Eagles draining 41.7 percent.
Tech shot 62.5 percent from the field in the contest, the highest shooting percentage in a loss since the team fired 65.0 percent in a 60-58 decision at Murray State on Feb. 20, 1982.
For the second straight game, the Golden Eagles made it rain from 3-point range early and often, hitting seven of their first eight treys.
Tech broke a program record on the night, hitting 87.5 percent from downtown in the first half, the team's highest 3-point field goal percentage in one half.
The Golden Eagles also shot 85.7 percent from the field in the first half, the highest shooting percentage by a Tech team in one half in the shot clock era (since 1985-86).
For the just the third time this season, Tech failed to score more points in the second half than in the first, producing 44 over the final 20 minutes after a 46-point first half.
Sophomore Aleksa Jugovic could not do wrong early, making all six of his first-half field goal attempts, including 4-for-4 from deep. He finished the game 10-for-13 and 5-for-7 from 3-point range for a game-high 25 points.
Senior Ryan Martin dominated the paint, particularly in the second half, scoring 16 of his 22 points and corralling seven of his nine rebounds over the final 20 minutes. He finished 9-for-13 from the field before leaving the game late due to injury.
Anthony Morse helped dominate the block, scoring 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting. He also recorded his 88th career block, moving into sole possession of fifth place in Tech history.
Hakeem Rogers added 16 points for while hitting three treys and Torrance Rowe also notched double-figures with 10 points.
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.
At Murray State, he set a program record for highest free throw percentage in a game, sinking all 15 of his attempts at the line. The previous record belonged to Jud Dillard who went 14-for-14 against Jacksonville State during the 2012-13 season.
This season, Rowe leads Tech in scoring with 17.3 points per game, good enough to rank fourth in the OVC, and with 4.4 assists per game, ranking fourth in the league.
T-Rowe owns an 86.7 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe and has dished out 79 assists while playing over 34 minutes per game.
BIG ANT'S BLOCK PARTY
Adept 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 one more shot at UT Martin, Morse now has 88 in his career and has moved into sole possession of fifth place all-time in Tech history. He needs 11 more blocks to pass Bassey Inameti for sole possession of fourth 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, he still sits 12th all-time.
Against Eastern Illinois, Morse hauled in 14 rebounds for a career-best mark, including 10 on the defensive glass alone.
Facing SIUE, the big man dominated the paint to the tune of a career-high 17 points, chipping in seven rebounds.
He gathered his second double-double with 12 points and 10 boards at APSU.
On the year, Morse ranks second in the OVC with 2.1 blocks per game. His 37 total rejections ranks 26th in the country. He also sits in the top 10 in the league in rebounding with 6.6 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 four 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.
Against SIUE, he dished out a career-high eight assists, just a game after doling out seven dimes against Eastern Illinois.
Jugovic dropped 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting at UT Martin, sinking all six of his first half field goal attempts. He was 5-for-7 from downtown as well.
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 fourth career double-double in Tech's victory at Murray State, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while going 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
Against SIUE, Martin dominated inside for a career-high 26 points, going 8-for-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. He added seven rebounds as well.
Martin owned the block at UT Martin, scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds before leaving the game late due to injury.
On the year, Martin is averaging 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, the best mark on the team and sixth best in the league. He ranks seventh in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting at an .802 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 his 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.
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 seasons 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 18 steals and five blocks so far while grabbing 3.4 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 Jim Dillon
