By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team wraps up its Illinois road trip Saturday afternoon, looking for its sixth consecutive victory with a 3:30 p.m. CT match-up at SIUE.
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+.
Saturday's match-up marks the 23rd in program history between Tech and SIUE. The Golden Eagles own a 13-9 advantage in the series, but the Cougars boast a 7-4 lead when competing in Edwardsville. SIUE has claimed wins in four of the last five match-ups, including three on its home floor.
The Cougars took both meetings last season, starting with a 74-57 triumph in their own gym. SIUE blazed out to a 45-19 halftime lead, holding off a better second-half effort from the Golden Eagles.
In the rematch in Cookeville, SIUE just edged the Golden Eagles in a 78-77 affair in the Hoop. Tech erased a 13-point, second-half deficit, but the Cougars held on down the stretch.
SIUE enters Saturday's contest following a close, road win in Charleston on Tuesday. The Cougars moved to 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 60-57 final score over Eastern Illinois in Groniger Arena.
Tech squares off with the Cougars after delivering an impressive, second-half comeback win in Charleston Thursday evening. The purple and gold picked up its fourth straight OVC victory and fifth consecutive win overall, topping EIU 69-64.
Facing a nine-point deficit at the break, the Golden Eagles opened the second half on a 10-0 run and turned it into a 23-5 streak. Tech then held off a late charge by the Panthers, with Kyle Layton leading the way with four clutch freebies in the final minute. Tech's ball control was a massive factor in the second half, as the Cookeville crew closed the final 20 minutes of the ball game without committing a single turnover.
Junior forward Daniel Egbuniwe dropped his second double-double of the season in the win, tying for the team lead with 13 points while pacing the squad with 10 rebounds. Junior guard Jaylon Johnson matched his teammate with 13 points, sinking 3-of-6 attempts from downtown while leading the game with six assists and no turnovers.
Layton mixed in 10 points and three assists, locking down a perfect 7-for-7 showing at the charity stripe on a night when the Golden Eagles shot just 62.5 percent at the line. Fellow sophomore JaJuan Nicholls also contributed 10 points on 3-for-6 efficiency, hauling in seven boards with four free throws.
Photo by Jim Dillon
