By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team stays in the comfort of the Hooper Eblen Center for its second straight home game of the week, squaring off against Midway in a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt Thursday night in Cookeville.
The action can be followed live via radio with Roger Ealey on the call on 106.1 The Eagle while Dylan Vazzano and Steve Smith will provide video coverage of the contest on ESPN+.
Tech cruised to a comfortable, 94-56 victory in the only previous match-up between the two programs, an easy Tech victory to kick off the 2017-18 campaign in Cookeville. Five Golden Eagles produced double-figures in scoring on the night, led by 18 points and six rebounds from Curtis Phillips Jr.
Local Livingston native Mason Ramsey added 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting while Shaq Calhoun delivered 15 points and four boards off the bench. Aleksa Jugovic and Kajon Mack each chipped in 10 points as well, with Mack tallying seven assists and six boards for good measure.
The Golden Eagles enter Thursday's affair following a tough defeat at the hands of in-state rival Lipscomb Tuesday evening. The visiting Bisons won, 96-65, behind elite shooting and taking advantage of a Tech cold spell in the first half.
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.
Following Thursday's contest, the Golden Eagles hit the road for a pair of contests before Thanksgiving break, visiting in-state foe Chattanooga Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. CT matinee. Tech will then take on Presbyterian on Wednesday, Nov. 22 in a 1:00 p.m. tilt in Clinton, S.C.
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
