By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team puts a cap on the 2022-23 regular season with its final road trip of the year, kicking the trek off with a Thursday-night affair at Southern Indiana at 7:30 p.m. CT in Evansville, Ind.
Fans can follow the action via radio on 106.1 The Eagle with Dylan Vazzano on the call or stream the game on ESPN+.
Southern Indiana comes into the contest following after splitting its action last week on the road. The Screaming Eagles picked up a tight victory at Little Rock last Thursday, edging the Trojans 82-81. The victory clinched Southern Indiana a bid to the OVC Tournament.
On Saturday, USI made the trip to Southeast Missouri, falling to the Redhawks in an 85-80 decision. The Screaming Eagles are one win away from clinching their 31st-straight winning season, a streak that started in 1992-93 under first-year head coach Bruce Pearl.
Tech and Southern Indiana squared off for the first time in program history on February 9, an 84-69 decision that went in favor of the Golden Eagles. The purple and gold knocked down 12 triples while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, with Jaylen Sebree and Brett Thompson each producing at least 20 points.
The Golden Eagles enter Thursday's action after splitting last weekend's final homestand. Tech defeated Lindenwood on Thursday, 77-68 before falling to UT Martin in barn burner on Saturday, 100-91.
Opening a 26-18 advantage seven minutes into the ball game, Tech started the contest on fire, sinking 10 of its first 14 shots, including eight-straight buckets and five triples in a row. It took a little longer than the Golden Eagles, but the Skyhawks got off to a torrid pace as well, eventually flipping the script on the purple and gold.
Playing in his final contest in front of the Golden Eagle faithful, Sebree delivered one of his strongest performances of the season. The graduate transfer from Morehead State ended the evening with his fifth double-double of the season, boasting 25 points with 10 rebounds. He also dished out five assists without making a turnover.
Also making his final appearance in the Hoop, Ty Perry contributed 10 points with a block, a steal, and two dimes. Thompson continued his hot stretch, posting 24 points on 50 percent shooting. Rounding out the double-digit scoring efforts for the purple and gold, junior guard Jayvis Harvey chipped in 13 points with four assists and two steals.
For his efforts during the week, Thompson picked up his first career OVC Newcomer of the Week honors on Monday. The junior guard averaged 26.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals for the week, shooting 50 percent from the floor, 43.8 percent from distance, and 90 percent from the charity stripe.
Following Thursday's match-up, Tech will head to Charleston, Ill. for the regular-season finale with Eastern Illinois. Tip is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.
Photo by Emily Armstrong
