By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A tough, first-half stretch of offense played spoiler to an otherwise good start by the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles fell in their home opener against in-state rival Lipscomb, 96-65, in the Hooper Eblen Center.
The purple and gold took a seven-point lead in the ball game over the first five minutes of action, jumping on top 12-5. The Bisons (2-2) ended the half on a 35-10 run, limiting the Golden Eagles (0-3) to just 28.1 percent shooting and a 3-for-11 mark from distance.
While the visitors from Nashville enjoyed a first half of impressive shooting, things only got better in the second half. Over the opening 20 minutes, Lipscomb shot 51.6 percent from the floor and 5-of-14 from downtown. Those numbers ballooned to 62.5 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from 3-point range in the second half.
The Golden Eagles found more rhythm in the second half, producing 43 points while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from deep. Eight of the team's 10 assists came in the second half as well.
Junior guard David Early, a Marshall transfer, led the purple and gold with a career-high 16 points on the night, finishing 6-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-4 from distance while chipping in two rebounds. Sophomore Little Rock transfer Daniel Egbuniwe set a pair of career marks in the tilt, turning in 13 points and seven rebounds. He blocked a shot, dished out two assists and shot 6-of-11 from the floor.
Local Celina native Grant Strong also finished in double figures in the scoring column, posting 10 points with four rebounds and a team-high three assists. Rookie forward Rylee Samons scored his first career points, drilling the final three shots he tried, all from downtown, on his way to nine on the evening.
Forward Rodney Johnson Jr. tacked on six points with three rebounds while senior guard Jayvis Harvey produced five points and seven rebounds.
Tech returns to the floor Thursday evening, playing host to Midway in a 6:00 p.m. CT match-up in the Hoop.
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech men's basketball are now on sale. To order, call 931-372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or visit TTUSports.com.
Photo by Jim Dillon
