By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team finally returns to its home court Thursday evening following a four-game road stretch, playing host to SIUE in a 7:30 p.m. CT contest in the Hooper Eblen Center.
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+.
Thursday's match-up marks the 24th in program history between Tech and SIUE. The Golden Eagles own a 13-10 advantage in the series, including a dominant 7-2 lead when competing in Cookeville. SIUE has claimed wins in five of the last six meetings, however just one has come in the Hoop.
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.
When the two sides squared off in Edwardsville earlier this season, SIUE defended its home floor for a fourth straight time. Tech led the contest, 26-25, at halftime, but the Cougar defense kept the Golden Eagles at bay to earn a 67-59 win.
Junior guard Ray Glasgow led the purple and gold with 19 points off the bench, finishing 5-for-7 from the floor, 8-for-8 from the charity stripe, and with six rebounds. Fellow junior guard Jaylon Johnson tallied 16 points while sinking three triples. SIUE's Ray'Sean Taylor led the contest with 25 points to go with eight boards and four steals.
SIUE enters Thursday's contest following a dominant defensive showing on its home floor against in-state rival Eastern Illinois Tuesday evening. The Cougars limited the Panthers to just 41 points on the night, overcoming a 22-point first half of its own with 44 second-half points for a 66-41 victory.
Tech squares off with SIUE after earning its third consecutive road victory with a 78-65 decision at Southern Indiana in Evansville on Saturday afternoon. It marked the Golden Eagles' first three-game winning streak on the road since the 2006-07 season.
Seven different players scored at least seven points for the purple and gold, including five in double figures. Senior forward Rodney Johnson Jr. paced the Cookeville crew with 15 points off the bench, snagging seven rebounds as well. Jaylon Johnson filled the stats sheet to the tune of 13 points, six boards, and four assists while sinking two triples.
Junior forward Daniel Egbuniwe notched his fourth double-double of the season, and second against the Screaming Eagles, behind 11 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. He also mixed in three assists.
Local Rickman native Matthew Sells tallied 10 points with a couple of 3-pointers and a 4-for-4 night at the line. Junior forward Ola Ajiboye matched his teammate with 10 points off the bench, just missing a double-double with nine rebounds and a team-high three steals. He finished 5-for-7 from the floor.
For good measure, sophomore guard Kyle Layton ended the night with seven points and two steals while Glasgow tacked on eight points off the bench. As a unit, the Golden Eagles sunk another nine 3-pointers in the contest, the 20th time in 23 games this season Tech has drained at least eight attempts from beyond the arc.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
