By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team hits the road for a trip north to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and a Saturday afternoon battle with Butler, a contest set to tip at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow the action via radio on 106.1 The Eagle with Dylan Vazzano on the call, watch the game live on FOX Sports 1, or stream the game on the FOX Sports App with Wayne Randazzo and Nick Bahe providing coverage for both FOX productions.
Butler enters Saturday's tilt after a solid victory over previously unbeaten Kansas State, defeating a squad receiving votes in both the AP poll and USA Today Coaches poll. The Bulldogs gathered a 76-64 victory in the BIG EAST - Big 12 Battle contest, making up for a 1-2 trip at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Playing in the Bahamas during the Thanksgiving break, Butler fell to No. 21 Tennessee, 71-45 before righting the ship with a 75-70 triumph over BYU. The three-game swing ended with a 76-61 defeat at the hands of NC State. The Bulldogs play just two, true road contests during non-conference play this season, falling at Penn State, 68-62, back on Nov. 14. Butler will head west to close out non-conference action at California on Dec. 10.
Saturday's match-up marks the first between the two programs all time, as well as Tech head coach John Pelphrey's first trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse as a coach or player. The Golden Eagles are 0-6 in the program's 100-year history when playing teams part of the current make-up of the BIG EAST Conference, the most recent a 79-48 loss at Xavier on Dec. 2, 2020. Pelphrey missed the contest that season while battling COVID-19 symptoms.
Tech fell in a tightly contested in-state affair with Chattanooga Wednesday evening in the Hooper Eblen Center, 81-74. Tech led 45-34 at halftime behind brilliant offensive play, shooting 55 percent from the field and 7-of-9 from distance. The Mocs flipped the script in the second stanza, firing an unconscious 12-of-15 from the floor, 7-of-9 from downtown, and 16-of-20 from the charity stripe.
Four Golden Eagles produced in double figures, led by a trio of 13-point efforts. Graduate forward Jaylen Sebree piled up a career-high six steals on the night to go along with his 13 points and dished out four assists. Junior guards Brett Thompson and Jayvis Harvey each contributed 13 points as well.
Slatten finished his night with a career-high 12 points and chipped in three boards off the bench. Freshman Grant Strong turned in a team-high five rebounds and dished out three helpers to go along with four points.
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech men's basketball are now on sale. To order, call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUSports.com.
Photo by Jim Dillon
