By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A hot start and continued efficiency on offense propelled the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team to a big win over Ohio Valley Conference foe SIUE Thursday evening, besting the Cougars in a rematch from the league opener, 80-68, in the Hooper Eblen Center.
The purple and gold turned in a spectacular offensive display for the viewers of its first nationally-televised home game in several years, holding a double-digit lead for most of the night while competing on ESPNews. With the win, Tech (10-12, 6-3) stayed atop the OVC standings in a tie with four other members of the league, including Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, Southern Indiana, and UT Martin.
After falling behind 6-4 with just four minutes into the ball game, the Golden Eagles turned on the lights to their offense and never looked back, using a 16-3 run to push out by 11. Tech ballooned its advantage over the Cougars (14-8, 5-4) to as much as 16 in the opening stanza and took a 13-point lead into the break.
Seven minutes into the second half, the purple and gold moved back out front by 16 points, but SIUE responded with a 9-0 run, cutting the Tech lead to just seven points. Over the next three minutes, neither side could get much going and the Cougars look poised to cut even further into the Golden Eagle advantage.
Enter local Sparta native Grant Slatten, who returned all momentum to the purple and gold and sent the Golden Eagle fans into a frenzy with back-to-back, highlight-reel plays. The sophomore guard snapped the 9-0 run by SIUE with a spectacular layup in transition, using a euro-step and pump fake on a fast break to pour in two and draw a foul in the process.
After draining the free throw, he went right back to work following a Cougars bucket, driving around SIUE forward DeeJuan Pruitt and straight to the bucket. Slatten then posterized the Cougar big man, drawing a foul while throwing down a vicious, right-handed dunk.
Down the stretch, it was Jaylen Sebree and Brett Thompson lifting the Golden Eagles on their backs, combining for 13 of the team's final 17 points. With SIUE trailing by five with just over two minutes to play, Sebree converted a much-needed layup.
Thompson hauled in a critical rebound on the other side of the floor and drew a foul to head to the line. Both he and Sebree knocked down a number of freebies down the stretch, with Jayvis Harvey and Ty Perry also turning in a pair each.
For the night, Sebree delivered his fourth double-double of the season, dropping 20 points and 11 rebounds on 7-for-10 shooting and a 5-for-6 performance from the charity stripe. Thompson was just behind his teammate, producing 18 points behind a 9-for-10 performance at the free-throw line.
Harvey and Perry each joined the double-digit scoring club as well. Playing a game-high 38 minutes, Perry turned in 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Harvey also put forth 10 points on the night.
Diante Wood made his return after missing four games due to injury and made his minutes count, contributing eight points, five boards, and five assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Slatten finished the contest with seven points and five rebounds while rookie Grant Strong notched seven points as well.
SIUE's Ray'Sean Taylor led all scorers on the night with 30 points and five steals. Pruitt posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Tech will return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon for a rematch with Little Rock in a 3:00 p.m. tilt in the Eblen Center. The contest represents Alumni Weekend for the Golden Eagle men's team as well.
All men's basketball alumni are invited back for the contest, with complimentary tickets for men's basketball alumni and their guests available. In addition to welcoming Tech men's basketball alumni back, recognitions are planned for the 1957-58 OVC Championship team celebrating its 65th anniversary and the 1962-63 OVC Championship team celebrating its 60th anniversary. Additionally, members of the All-Century Team will be recognized at halftime of the contest.
Please RSVP with the number of tickets you will need to Kristie Phillips at kphillips@tntech.edu or call 931-372-6857.
Photo by Jim Dillon
