By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of contests over the next four days, starting with a Sunday showdown at in-state rival Chattanooga.
Tip is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT at McKenzie Arena. The action can be followed live via radio with Roger Ealey on the call on 106.1 The Eagle while Chris Goforth and Todd Agne will provide video coverage of the contest on ESPN+.
The Golden Eagles hold a decisive advantage in the all-time series between the two in-state foes, boasting a mark of 42-22 and 14-13 edge when playing in Chattanooga. The Mocs have been hot of late, winning each of the past five match-ups.
Last season, Chattanooga bested the purple and gold in Cookeville, delivering an 81-74 victory. Former Moc Jake Stephens led the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while Tech's Jayvis Harvey tied for the team lead with 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting.
Grant Slatten chipped in 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting in 17 minutes off the bench while former Golden Eagles Jaylen Sebree and Brett Thompson each added 13 points to the mix. Sebree also tacked on three boards, four assists, and a whopping six steals.
On Thursday, Tech picked up its first win of the season, defeating Midway by a score of 82-70 in a contest not as close as the final score indicated. In control from the tip, the Golden Eagles saw a number of players stuff the stat sheets.
Racking up the first double-double of the year for the purple and gold was sophomore guard Josiah Davis. The West Virginia transfer finished 5-for-8 from the floor on the night, earning his first career double-double with career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds. He flirted with a triple-double, piling up a career-best six assists.
Just missing his own double-double on the night was sophomore forward Daniel Egbuniwe, who notched career-high marks of 16 points – on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor and a 3-for-4 showing at the charity stripe – nine rebounds, six blocks, five assists, and two steals. The Little Rock transfer recorded the most rejections by a Golden Eagle since Charles Jackson sent back six Austin Peay attempts back on Jan. 10, 2013.
Leading the Tech squad in scoring on the night was junior forward Rodney Johnson Jr., who got the purple and gold out to an early lead with eight of the team's first 10 points in the contest. The Weatherford College transfer registered career-highs of 18 points on 9-for-12 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists.
Senior guard Jayvis Harvey completed the evening 5-for-9 from the floor, locking down 13 points, four boards, two helpers, and a couple of makes from 3-point range. Also enjoying a strong night on the hardwood for the Golden Eagles was sophomore guard Grant Strong. The local Celina native tallied seven points, five rebounds, and three assists in nearly 30 minutes off the bench.
The purple and gold close out their two-game road stretch at Presbyterian on Wednesday, Nov. 22, squaring off with the Blue Hose 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
