By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team returns to the Hooper Eblen Center for a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt against Western Carolina, playing host to the Catamounts Tuesday evening in Cookeville. The contest represents the first of two contests for Tech as part of the Southeast Triangular multi-team event.
The action can be followed live via radio with Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell on the call on 106.1 The Eagle while Dylan Vazzano and Steve Smith will provide video coverage of the contest on ESPN+.
The visiting Catamounts own a slight, 6-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs, winning its fifth-straight meeting last season after the Golden Eagles had captured the previous five match-ups in a row. WCU defeated Tech, 75-65, in Cookeville last season, using small edges in a number of categories to take the win.
In last year's affair in the Hoop, former Catamount Tyzhaun Claude led the scoring effort with 21 points, including an 11-14 effort at the charity stripe. Current Western Carolina guard Vonterius Woolbright flirted with a triple-double, boasting 18 points, 12 boards, and seven assists.
For Tech, it was current senior guard Jayvis Harvey pacing the way with a team-high 19 points, backed up by another 16 points and six boards from former Golden Eagle Jaylen Sebree. Local Celina native Grant Strong chipped in 10 points off the bench.
On Wednesday, the Golden Eagles delivered an impressive road win over a Presbyterian team that was 5-1 with a victory over Vanderbilt, defeating the Blue Hose in overtime, 79-75. Tech overcame multiple, double-digit deficits in the affair, including a 15-point hole toward the end of the first half.
The purple and gold were led by a trio of 20-point performances, a first by the program since Jan. 21, 2016 at Morehead State. That contest saw Torrance Rowe drop 22 points, Aleksa Jugovic post 21 and Ryan Martin add 20 to effort.
In Wednesday's action, it was Harvey in front of the charge, producing team-highs of 22 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Rodney Johnson Jr. was just behind his teammate with tallies of 21 points and seven boards while junior guard David Early secured 20 points and six rebounds in the win.
Sophomore guard Josiah Davis turned in 10 points, eight rebounds, and a team-high six dimes to the effort while sophomore forward Daniel Egbuniwe added four points and four rebounds.
The purple and gold will conclude the MTE on Thursday, Nov. 30 in a 7:00 p.m. contest at North Alabama.
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
