By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team rounds out non-conference play with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt against Kentucky Christian Tuesday evening, hosting the Knights in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Fans can follow the action via radio on 106.1 The Eagle with Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell on the call or stream the game on ESPN+ with Buddy Pearson and Michael Cooper providing coverage.
Kentucky Christian, a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference in NCCAA and NAIA play, enters the contest after snapping a six-game skid last Tuesday. The Knights defeated St. Andrews 111-82 after dropping four conference tilts and a pair of match-ups with familiar foes to the Golden Eagles.
On Nov. 29, KCU traveled to Morehead State and was dealt a 109-62 loss by Tech's Ohio Valley Conference rivals. A week later, the Knights made the trip to Clarksville and were handed a defeat at the hands of former Tech league foe Austin Peay, 102-57.
Tuesday marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Tech and Kentucky Christian were scheduled to play last season prior to the holiday break, but the game was cancelled and the Golden Eagles defeated Montreat College, 117-60.
The Golden Eagles dropped a tough, 75-65 decision to Western Carolina Saturday afternoon, a game that featured four lead changes and eight ties. The Catamounts pulled away late from the Cookeville crew in an otherwise tight ball game that saw Tech outshoot WCU from a percentage standpoint.
Tech guard Jayvis Harvey turned in a career-high 19 points while sinking all six of his free-throw attempts. The junior converted three of his four tries from distance and hauled in three rebounds.
Forward Jaylen Sebree followed up his career-high 25-point outburst at Lipscomb with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting and a 3-for-4 day from downtown. The graduate transfer from Morehead State also tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
Rookie guard Grant Strong turned in a great showing off the bench, finishing 4-for-4 from the field on his way to 10 points in 24 minutes of action. Graduate guard Ty Perry dished out a team-high six assists while center Nolan Causwell tied Sebree for the team lead of six boards.
The purple and gold will kick off OVC action Thursday, Dec. 29 with a visit to SIUE and 7:30 p.m. CT tilt with the Cougars in Edwardsville, Ill. Tech will then visit Lindenwood for the first time in program history, squaring off with the new league foe in a 3:30 p.m. affair Saturday, Dec. 31.
Photo by Jim Dillon
