By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team returns to the Hooper Eblen Center to host Southeast Missouri in a 3:00 p.m. CT tilt Saturday afternoon, a rematch with one of the Ohio Valley Conference's two teams tied for the lead in the league standings.
Fans can follow the action via radio on 106.1 The Eagle with Roger Ealey on the call or stream the game on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano and Seth Bruton providing coverage.
Southeast Missouri comes into the contest smoking hot and with a share of the lead in the OVC standings, currently tied with Tech's Thursday-night opponent Morehead State. The Redhawks have captured four straight wins, and seven of their past eight contests. On Thursday, SEMO outlasted a massive spark from Little Rock in an absolute barn burner in Cape Girardeau, besting the Trojans 99-98.
In the all-time series between the two OVC rivals, Tech leads with a 37-20 advantage. The Golden Eagles hold a commanding, 24-5 lead in the series when competing in Cookeville. The purple and gold have won each of the past five tilts in the Eblen Center, including a thrilling, 98-94 triumph last season.
This season, SEMO snapped Tech's five-game winning streak in league play, holding off a furious rally by the purple and gold in a double-overtime classic in Cape Girardeau. Trailing by 22 points in the opening half, the Golden Eagles stormed back and forced not one, but two extra sessions before falling, 84-77.
The Golden Eagles enter Saturday following a tough loss at Morehead State on Thursday, a contest that saw the Tech offensive struggle to find a rhythm. The Cookeville crew was held to season lows of four assists and just two made 3-pointers in the 64-45 loss.
Graduate forward and former Morehead State Eagle Jaylen Sebree led the purple and gold on offense in his return to his previous stomping grounds, finishing the night with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting. He also corralled a team-high seven rebounds and dished out half of the team's four assists.
Following Saturday's match-up, Tech will play host to Southern Indiana for the first time in program history, squaring off with the Screaming Eagles in an 8:00 p.m. CT affair Thursday, Feb. 9. The contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU, Tech's second national broadcast of the season.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
