By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball couldn't match the sizzling-hot shooting stroke of visiting Belmont Saturday night, falling to the Bruins in Ohio Valley Conference play by a final score of 93-65.
Tech (7-20, 3-11) made its first four shots of the ball game, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. The tables turned quickly, however, as Belmont found its touch from downtown early and often. The Bruins (21-4, 12-2) sank a whopping 15-of-28 tries from 3-point range, shooting 53.6 percent.
Belmont shot 50.9 percent overall in the contest, making it a tough go for a Tech squad that struggled to find consistency on offense. The Golden Eagles finished with identical 12-for-31 performances from the field in both the first and second half.
Tech did manage to hit nine triples on 20 attempts, but couldn't match the output of its in-state rival. The purple and gold also struggled to get to the foul line, attempting just 11 freebies in the contest as compared to Belmont's 28.
The Golden Eagles won the battle on the glass, snagging 38 boards to the 36 corralled by the Bruins. Tech also made just 13 turnovers on the year, well below its season average.
The Special Olympics Player of the Game, Jr. Clay, led the Golden Eagles in scoring, rebounding and assists in 37 minutes of action. The freshman notched 20 points, eight boards and three dimes, becoming just the second freshman in program history to record seven 20-point outings in one season.
Fellow rookie Hunter Vick poured in 15 points while hitting three triples and snagging a team-high three steals.
The Golden Eagles will return to action Thursday, Feb. 21 in the Eblen Center, continuing their four-game home stand with a 7:30 p.m. CT tilt with Eastern Kentucky.
Photo by Tony Marable
