By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – One last trip on the road remains for the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team in the 2015-16 regular season, as the Golden Eagles will hit up I-40 down to Nashville Saturday afternoon for crucial, Ohio Valley Conference East Division battle with in-state rival Belmont.
The Golden Eagles (18-8, 10-3) sit just a half-game back of the Bruins (19-9, 11-3) for the lead in the race for the OVC regular season title and will look for their first sweep of their rival since they joined the league three seasons ago. A win would also give Tech its own half-game advantage in the standings as well as a tiebreaker over Belmont should the scenario arise.
Fans can listen to the action live on 106.1 The Eagle with Dylan Vazzano on the call or follow live via webstream on the OVC Digital Network.
Tennessee Tech (18-8, 10-3) at Belmont (19-9, 11-3)
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016
5:00 p.m. CST
Curb Event Center (5,000) – Nashville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: None
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Dylan Vazzano)
Webcast: OVC Digital Network
ABOUT BELMONT
Tech travels to Nashville for its last road contest of the regular season for a critical OVC East Division tilt with in-state foe Belmont on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. CST.
Belmont is in its 35th season under the direction of head coach and former Tech assistant Rick Byrd.
The Bruins are currently 19-9 overall and 11-3 in OVC play, coming off an 86-78 road victory at Eastern Kentucky Thursday evening.
This season, Belmont is 10-1 at home, 8-8 on the road, and 1-0 at neutral sites.
Last season, the Bruins compiled a 22-11 overall record and 11-5 mark in the OVC, finishing 2nd in the East Division regular season standings and 3rd overall. Belmont went on to win the OVC Tournament and represent the league in the NCAA Tournament.
This marks just the 19th meeting all-time between the two programs, with Tech dominating the series with a 13-5 edge. Belmont has won five of the past seven meetings after losing the first 11. Tech is 2-3 all-time against the Bruins on their home court in Nashville.
The Golden Eagles handed Belmont its first OVC loss of the season on Jan. 30, beating the Bruins in an intense battle that ended with an 89-79 Tech victory in Cookeville.
The Bruins boast the league's most potent offense, scoring 81.8 points per game. They also lead the OVC in assists per game (17.2) and 3-point field goals per game (10.3)
Belmont is led by Evan Bradds, who averages 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He currently leads the nation in field goal percentage, making 71.6 percent of his attempts.
Craig Bradshaw boasts 16.8 points per game, shooting 38.8 percent from deep and 44.7 percent from the field.
Taylor Barnette and Amanze Egekeze also represent scoring threats for Belmont, averaging 10.2 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.
JACKSONVILLE STATE RECAP
Tech kept its perfect record in the Eblen Center in tact Saturday evening, edging out OVC East Division opponent Jacksonville State, 72-70.
For the second time in five games, senior Torrance Rowe hit game-winning free throws with under one second to play after being fouled beyond the 3-point line. He sank 2-of-3 with 0.7 ticks left on the scoreboard to hand Jacksonville State the loss.
Rowe's free throws came after Jax State's Greg Tucker knocked down a game-tying triple with seven seconds to play.
After a slower first half offensively, Tech shot 57.1 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes, including a much-improved 76.5 percent from the charity stripe over the 50 percent from the first half.
The Golden Eagles did most of their damage in and around the bucket, outscoring the Gamecocks 28-18 in the paint thanks to double digits from three forwards.
Ryan Martin led Tech with 16 points, sinking 6-of-7 free throws and dishing out three assists. Anthony Morse joined the fun with 12 points and blocked his 52 shot.
Sophomore Mason Ramsey tickled the twine for 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting in just 21 minutes of action.
Making his first career start in the place on an injured Shirmane Thomas, junior Hakeem Rogers drained 5-of-9 treys for 15 points while corralling a career-high and team-best seven rebounds.
Rowe finished with 10 points five assists while Aleksa Jugovic led the Golden Eagles with six dimes.
ON A ROWE
One of the league's best free throw shooters, Torrance Rowe set a program record for highest free throw percentage in a game, sinking all 15 of his attempts at the line at Murray State. The previous record belonged to Jud Dillard who went 14-for-14 against Jacksonville State during the 2012-13 season.
The senior turned in one of the best passing performances in program history against Southeast Missouri, dishing out 12 assists with zero turnovers. Only Maurice Houston posted more with zero turnovers, recording 15 dimes against Morehead State in March of 1993.
This season, Rowe leads Tech in scoring with 17.4 points per game, good enough to rank fourth in the OVC, and with 4.5 assists per game, also ranking fourth in the league. In OVC play, he ranks third in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game.
T-Rowe owns an 85.1 percent shooting touch from the charity stripe, ranking fourth in the league, and has dished out 117 assists while averaging 35.1 minutes.
BIG ANT'S BLOCK PARTY
Adept at rejecting shots around the bucket since his arrival in Cookeville in 2012, Anthony Morse has climbed up the all-time list for career blocks (listed far right).
After blocking one more shots against Jacksonville State, Morse now has 103 in his career and holds sole possession of fourth place all-time in Tech history. He needs 13 more blocks to pass Milos Babic for sole possession of third 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 first in the OVC with 2.0 blocks per game. He ranks fifth in the league with a 60.9 field goal percentage and also sits in the top 15 in rebounding with 6.0 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 seven 20-point outings to his credit this season, including his career-high 27 coming against Southeast Missouri. Jugovic went 9-of-13 from the field while hitting 7-of-11 3-pointers and both free throw attempts.
He ranks fifth in the OVC in 3-point shooting at 42.2 percent, owning more makes and attempts than the other four players ahead of him. In league play alone, he ranks third in accuracy from downtown at 47.9 percent, sinking more shots than the top two ranked players. He leads the OVC at the charity stripe with an 87.5 free throw percentage.
Facing EIU, he dropped 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.
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.
The bonafide sharpshooter connected on 4-of-8 missiles from downtown at Morehead State, tallying 21 points on the night.
He took to the mid-range jumper at EKU, sinking 8-of-13, field goals, 2-of-4 3-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws on his way to 24 points, equaling the most consecutive 20-point outings by a Golden Eagles since Jud Dillard posted four straight to end his career during the 2012-13 season.
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-pointers made (251) and 3-point percentage (.407). Davis believes Jugovic can break both records in his career, and the numbers support that claim so far.
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 eighth time in two years, the Golden Eagles completed a comeback of 10 points or more with Rowe making a large impact on the outcome. He has hit the game-winning or tying shot in four of those contests and in five total games.
In a bizarre finish, Tennessee State guard Keron DeShields was fouled from 3-point range with 5.5 seconds to play, sinking all three attempts to tie the game at 79.
Rowe raced down the court, threw up a shot fake and earned his own trip to the line for three attempts, this time with 0.5 seconds left. He sank the first two free throws before missing the final on purpose to give Tech the 13-point rally and victory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He tallied his seventh career double-double in Tech's impressive home victory over Belmont, tallying 18 points and 13 rebounds while sinking all nine of his free throw attempts.
On the year, Martin is averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, the best mark on the team and fourth best in the league. He ranks eighth in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting at a .798 clip.
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 24 steals and seven blocks so far while grabbing 3.5 rebounds per game, including a career-high seven at Iowa and against Tennessee State.
ROGERS THAT
One of Tech's most valuable scoring options, Hakeem Rogers has made the most of his opportunities coming off the bench this season, averaging 9.8 points and shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range in just 18.2 minutes per game.
One of four JUCO transfers on the team, Rogers became the first Tech player to hit four triples in his Golden Eagle debut in over 15 years, scoring 18 points.
Rogers owns three 20-point outings this season, including back-to-back 20-point performances during Tech's most crucial two-game swing of the year.
Against Tennessee State, the junior posted a career-high 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including a 4-for-6 showing from beyond the arc.
In Tech's victory over Belmont, Rogers dropped 20 more on the scoreboard, firing at a 7-for-12 rate from the floor. He also recorded a career-high three steals.
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.
At Jacksonville State, the sophomore played a career-high 31 minutes, scoring five points and grabbing six 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.
He also 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 as did former Golden Eagle and current Graduate Assistant Manager Mitchell Hill.
FAMILIAR ROOTS
By far the youngest player on the roster, Micaiah Henry hardly looks like a typical 18-year-old. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, there is plenty to work with in the post for the Tech squad. The youngster will sit out the 2015-16 season 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 Tony Marable
