By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team makes its way to the Show Me state for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference tilts to close out the week, kicking things off with a Thursday-night affair with Southeast Missouri at 7:30 p.m. CT at the Show Me Center.
The action can be followed live via radio with Dylan Vazzano on the call on 106.1 The Eagle while video coverage will be available on ESPN+.
Thursday's match-up represents the 61st all-time between the two programs, with the Golden Eagles holding a decisive, 39-21 advantage in the series. When competing in Cape Girardeau, the Redhawks hold a 15-12 lead.
Back on Jan. 13, the two sides delivered a back-and-forth bout in the opening half before the Golden Eagles pulled away over the second period for a 70-59 victory. Up by two with just over eight minutes to play, the Cookeville crew combined its stingy, second-half defense with a clutch play on offense to produce a 9-0 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes.
Four Golden Eagles delivered double-digit scoring efforts, led by senior guard Jayvis Harvey and his 19points. He racked up three steals while finishing 3-for-4 from distance and 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Sophomore forward Daniel Egbuniwe turned in a double-double, boasting 14 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, and five assists. Sophomore guard Josiah Davis contributed 13 points on 6-for-9 efficiency while senior guard Diante Wood tacked on 13 points of his own to go along with five boards and three dimes.
The two rivals delivered three incredibly tight contests during the 2022-23 campaign, with the purple and gold picking up a victory on its home court. SEMO earned the first win of the season, outlasting the Golden Eagles in double overtime in Cape Girardeau, 84-77. Harvey led the Tech effort with 22 points, five boards, three assists, and three steals. Fellow senior guard Erik Oliver added 13 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
Tech got its revenge in Cookeville, with former Golden Eagle guard Brett Thompson sinking a buzzer-beater to lift the purple and gold to an 82-80 triumph. Former Tech forward Jaylen Sebree paced the squad with 22 points and nine rebounds while Wood produced nine points and eight boards.
Both teams saved their best efforts for last, meeting a third time in the OVC Tournament title game. The Golden Eagles appeared to win the contest, as Sebree launched a full-court pass that found Wood. The Anniston, Ala. native turned and drilled what appeared to be a buzzer-beating triple to give Tech the win. Upon review, it was determined that Wood's foot was on the line, resulting in a game-tying bucket that sent the game to overtime. The Redhawks pulled off an 89-82 win for its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.
Wood erupted for a career-high 24 points off the bench in the game, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Thompson chipped in 18 points and Sebree turned in 14 while Harvey contributed 13 points and five assists.
On Saturday, the purple and gold dropped a tight, low-scoring affair with the league's top team, falling to Morehead State at home, 67-60. Rebounding was the ultimate factor on the night, with the visiting Eagles beating Tech on the glass, 38-24.
Wood paced the purple and gold in the tilt, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists. Davis was right behind, securing 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting with a team-high six dimes and four rebounds.
Joining the double-digit scoring efforts was Harvey, posting 12 points with three assists. Rookie guard Kyle Layton tacked on eight points, three dimes, and three boards while Egbuniwe chipped in seven points, four rebounds, and three steals.
Photo by Jim Dillon
