By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team returns to Cookeville for its final homestand of the 2022-23 regular season, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. CT rematch against Lindenwood Thursday evening in the Hooper Eblen Center.
Fans will have plenty of options to follow the action, with Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell providing radio coverage on 106.1 The Eagle and Dylan Vazzano and Michael Cooper sharing the call on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the WTTU student radio station 88.5 FM.
Lindenwood comes into the contest after falling twice last weekend, once at home and once on the road. After picking up their third and fourth wins in OVC play in back-to-back home games two weeks ago, the Lions saw their streak snapped in a 63-58 loss to SIUE in St. Charles, Mo. On Saturday, Lindenwood dropped its second straight tilt, a 74-64 decision in Evansville, Ind.
Tech and Lindenwood squared off for the first time in program history back on December 31, an 82-64 decision that went in favor of the Lions. It marked Lindenwood's first-ever victory in Ohio Valley Conference play.
The Golden Eagles enter Thursday's action after falling on the road to in-state rival Tennessee State. The contest was suspended with 3:04 remaining and TSU leading 67-53 due to an injury suffered by Golden Eagle junior guard Diante Wood.
He was evaluated by Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech Athletics training staff members and local, Nashville EMS personnel and taken to the hospital for further observation. After undergoing further evaluation, he was discharged and allowed to return to Cookeville late Saturday evening.
In accordance with the NCAA Rulebook (Section 4), both teams agreed to end the game at the point of interruption and declare Tennessee State the winner. Because the contest had reached "a reasonable point of conclusion" (at least 30 minutes for basketball), the statistics counted for both teams.
It was a tough go for the Golden Eagles on offense during the evening, posting a season-low 28.3 percent from the field and hitting just 4-of-15 tries from downtown. Tech kept itself in it the contest for much of the night behind 82.6 percent shooting from the charity stripe, sinking 19-of-23 tries.
Wood finished the contest with a season-high 12 points, draining all six of his free-throw attempts while hauling in three rebounds and blocking a career-high three shots. Graduate forward Jaylen Sebree paced the Tech offense with 15 points while tying for the team lead with six rebounds. Graduate guard Ty Perry also snagged six boards while contributing eight points. Brett Thompson added nine points, five rebounds, and three assists to mix.
Following Thursday's match-up, Tech stays in the Hoop for its final home contest of the 2022-23 regular season, hosting in-state foe UT Martin on Saturday, Feb. 18 in a 3:00 p.m. CT tilt as part of Senior Day. The Golden Eagle men's and women's basketball teams will honor their senior members in brief ceremonies between the two contests. The women will tip off at 1:00 p.m. against the Skyhawks.
Photo by Jim Dillon
