By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A close-knit battle for more than 39 minutes, it was the experience and free-throw shooting of the visiting Chattanooga Mocs that was the difference Monday night as the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team fell to its in-state rival in the Hooper Eblen Center, 62-54.
The eight-point differential surely didn't do the contest justice, as neither side gained more than a five-point advantage until the 17-second mark in the second half, with the Mocs sinking five straight free throws to ice the contest.
The Golden Eagles, still playing without head coach John Pelphrey on the sideline (as he continued his recovery from COVID) and guards Jr. Clay, Tujautae Williams and Damaria Franklin (out due to COVID protocols), held a four-point lead with just under five minutes to play. But a cold stretch from the floor by the purple and gold over the final five minutes, however, saw the visitors from Chattanooga end the contest on a 14-2 run.
"We're young," assistant coach Marcus King said. "We had a lot of detail mistakes. We don't quite understand what it takes to win a college basketball game yet. We're missing our leader in Jr. Clay, and it showed. He did a great job on the bench in trying to get guys engaged, but he couldn't get out there and help them by playing."
Tech's struggles from the free-throw line, finishing 7-for-15 on the night, proved to be a significant factor as well on the night. On the other side of the floor, the Mocs took advantage of their trips to the line, sinking 19-of-22 tries.
Still, despite the challenges, the Golden Eagles showed a lot to be excited about as the year goes on.
"From last Wednesday to tonight, our intensity was better," King expressed. "The guys played harder. They competed, they just didn't compete to completion, and that was kind of the deal. It's kind of like if you're in class and have a 98 average, there are only two scores that can help you. It's very detailed and very hard to get to that level, but we competed."
The competition showed in multiple efforts on the night. Sophomore point guard Keishawn Davidson paced the Golden Eagles once again, recording his second career double-double with team-highs of 12 points and 10 rebounds. He added six assists while flirting with a triple-double over 36 minutes of action.
Graduate transfer Shandon Goldman posted a season-high 11 points and snagged seven boards as well while freshman forwards Austin Harvell and Kenny White Jr. each scored some timely buckets down the stretch, contributing eight and seven points, respectively.
"I thought our freshman came out with a different look, not quite with the jitters they had at Indiana," King added. "More importantly, our guys stepped up. Marcus Hopkins proved to be a presence in the paint. Amadou [Sylla] did a great job as well. It's just some little things we need to clean up, and that's on us as coaches. We'll talk about those things and get to work on them."
Hopkins was efficient in 12 minutes of action, scoring four points with four rebounds. Sylla, who battle foul trouble in the first half and was limited to 15 minutes, was a defensive stalwart when on the floor, blocking three shots, tipping passes and corralling three boards. Sophomore Dane quest added a career-high eight rebounds while scoring five points as well.
The Golden Eagles will kick off a three-game road swing Wednesday afternoon, starting with a trip to Cincinnati to take on Xavier in a 6:00 p.m. CT affair on Dec. 2. Tech will then square off with Northern Kentucky the next day in a 5:00 p.m. tilt. An 11:00 a.m. Sunday (Dec. 6) contest at Western Carolina rounds out the trip for the purple and gold.
Photo by Jim Dillon
