By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team returns to the Hooper Eblen Center for its second home game of the season Tuesday evening, playing host to in-state rival Lipscomb in a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt.
The Bisons represent the third different opponent from the state of Tennessee for the Golden Eagles this season, and the third of eight different programs from the state on the Tech schedule in 2021-22.
Lipscomb enters the tilt 4-1 on the year, coming off a decisive, 78-59 victory at Dayton in front of more than 13,000 fans. The Bisons also boast wins over Loyola Maryland (70-65), South Carolina State (93-81), and Birmingham-Southern (105-98).
The Nashville squad averages 84.6 points per game while holding its opponents to 77.8 on the scoreboard. The Bisons shoot 50.9 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range, but have a -0.8 margin on the glass. Tech has dominated the rebounding margin this year, sporting a mark of +9.8.
Ahsan Asadullah paces the Lipscomb offense and rebounding efforts with 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He has also dished out 16 assists and blocked eight shots. Off the bench, Valparaiso transfer Jacob Ognacevic averages 14.6 points and 5.2 rebounds and Tommy Murr adds 12.2 points per game. Greg Jones averages 11.2 points while KJ Johnson sports 10.4 points and 5.4 assists per game.
The Golden Eagles fell in a close, defensive battle against UNC Asheville at Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena last Thursday, 61-55. Both sides struggled to shoot from distance, with Tech finishing 0-for-21 and without a make from distance for the first time since Feb. 10, 2011. The Bulldogs were held to just 4-of-23 shooting from beyond the arc, a mark of 17.4 percent.
Both defenses were hard at work during the evening, with the Bulldogs forcing 21 Tech turnovers. The Golden Eagles forced 16 by UNCA. The purple and gold also dominated the glass, hauling in 47 boards to just 31 for UNC Asheville.
Transfer guards Diante Wood and John Pettway led the Golden Eagles offensively during the contest, combining for 27 of the team's 55 points. Wood hit 6-of-8 tries from the field on his way to 14 points while Pettway, also 6-for-8 from the floor, finished with 13 points.
Forward Amadou Sylla hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds with eight points while fellow Bamako, Mali native Mamoudou Diarra corralled seven boards with six points. Jr. Clay chipped in six points, five rebounds, and three steals.
Clay leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 23rd nationally with 5.8 assists per game this season. He also ranks 45th in steals per game with a mark of 2.5. Davidson comes in at 13th nationally and first in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting 60.0 percent from deep.
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are on sale now. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or log on to TTUSports.com to order yours today.
Photo by Jim Dillon
