By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team puts its four-game winning streak on the line with Ohio Valley Conference action in Charleston, Ill. Thursday evening, taking on Eastern Illinois in a 7:30 p.m. CT affair.
The action can be followed live via radio with Roger Ealey on the call on 106.1 The Eagle while video coverage of the contest will be provided on ESPN+.
Thursday's match-up marks the 52nd in program history between Tech and Eastern Illinois. The Golden Eagles own a 32-19 advantage in the series, including a slight, 13-12 edge when competing in Charleston. Tech has claimed six of the last seven meetings between the two squads.
The two sides split last season's series, each picking up victories on their respective home courts. The Panthers took the first meeting, a 68-59 decision in Charleston back on Jan. 25. Rodney Johnson Jr. posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards off the bench while Daniel Egbuniwe turned in 10 points and seven rebounds.
On Feb. 24, the purple and gold got its revenge, downing Eastern Illinois 75-67 in the Hoop. Johnson Jr. again led Tech, scoring 18 points off the bench. Egbuniwe tallied 16 points with seven boards while Kyle Layton delivered 14 on four made triples.
Eastern Illinois enters Thursday's contest following a close loss at home to in-state rival SIUE. The Cougars moved to 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 60-57 final score in Groniger Arena. The Panthers' lone league victory came in overtime against Lindenwood on Jan. 2, a 78-74 decision.
Tech squares off with the Panthers after rolling to a huge, 74-55 victory over Morehead State on Saturday, the team's fourth consecutive win. The Cookeville crew's 19-point win over Morehead marked its largest over the rival since a 63-40 triumph in Cookeville back on Jan. 13, 2005.
Two nights after turning in a season-high 12 points, Matthew Sells dropped a new season-high of 17 points, sinking 5-of-6 shots from the floor and 4-of-5 tries from downtown while playing 33 minutes. Sophomore forward JaJuan Nicholls also posted a season-high in the scoring column, securing 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting. He mixed in three assists and two blocks for good measure.
Flirting with a triple-double and filling the stat sheets, Jaylon Johnson delivered 12 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and five steals to the Tech effort. Sophomore guard Kyle Layton produced 10 points on 3-for-4 shooting with five rebounds.
Sparta native Grant Slatten finished 2-for-3 in 18 minutes off the bench, dropping eight points with four rebounds. Junior forward Daniel Egbuniwe chipped in six points, a team-high 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks as well.
Photo by Jim Dillon
