By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech picked up the pace and picked up the win Thursday night, racing out to a big lead then hanging on down the stretch to claim a 72-65 non-conference victory over Georgia State in Eblen Center action.
Hoping to dictate a faster, up-tempo style of play the Golden Eagles used that pace to their advantage, putting together a tremendous team-effort throughout the first half that left coach Jim Davis' team out front, 42-28 at the break.
"We tried to speed them up," Davis said. "We're a young team, and they're even younger.
"I was really pleased with how we stuck together and hung in there," Davis said. "We encouraged each other and we picked each other up. That's what good teams do."
Tech (1-2) was led by senior Samaria Howard with 21 points and seven rebounds, two assists and to steals. Hannah Goolsby added 13 points, the only other Golden Eagle in double figures.
But it was the support provided by six other scorers that proved the difference. Alliyah Smith added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds, Treyvonna Brooks had seven points, seven rebounds, Yaktavia Hickson finished with seven points and six boards, and Asia Harper netted eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
Point guard Takisha Jordan's five assists was tops in the contest.
Georgia State also had two players in double figures, led by Astaja Tygher with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Tatianna Jackson chipped in 11 points. The Panthers also saw tremendous support, with four players adding between six and eight points.
Georgia State never led in the contest, tying it twice in the opening minutes. Tech broke a 5-5 tie with a 15-2 run to build a 20-7 lead as five different players contributed to the string. Tech closed the first quarter with a 21-12 lead.
Tech's lead ballooned to as many as 18 points late in the first half, 42-24, before Georgia State scored the final four to trail at halftime, 42-28.
Tech's lead never left double digits in the third quarter, although the Panthers pulled within 10 points, 50-40. A three-point play by Jordan was a huge play, allowing Tech to regain momentum and head to the final period up by 14 points, 59-45.
The frenetic pace almost came back to spoil Tech's night in the final period as Georgia State's pressure and a 9-2 run closed the Golden Eagle lead down to four points, 64-60, with nearly six minutes remaining.
Goolsby hit a layup and Howard netted two free throws to regain an eight-point edge.
Clinging to a six-point lead with the 30-second clock winding down, Howard then snared the biggest basket of the night, an off-balance, weaving jumper in the lane with one second left on the shot clock to make it 70-62 with 54 seconds to play.
A 3-pointer by Makeba Ponder was the final basket of the night for the Panther, before Harper made two free throws with four seconds left for the final margin.
"We need to learn how to handle pressure a little better," Davis said about his team's near-miss in the fourth quarter.
Tech shot 45.8 percent from the field (27-of-59) and had 14 assists, helping to overcome 24 turnovers and 11 Panthers steals. The Golden Eagles also owned a 48-40 edge in rebounds. Georgia State was limited to 41.9 percent shooting.
Three quarters of the way through their four-game, season-opening homestand, the Golden Eagles turn their sights on a Sunday afternoon clash with Lipscomb. The game in Eblen Center tips off at 2 p.m., and it will be Church Bulletin Day. Fans bringing a church bulletin from earlier that day can purchase a ticket for just one dollar.
