Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics:
OPENING TIP: An 11-point loss on Thursday set the Tennessee State men’s basketball team back in the standings heading into Saturday’s contest with Tennessee Tech, who just knocked off Morehead State in its previous tilt. The Tigers look to stay perfect in OVC Saturdays as Jr. Clay returns to the house he patched up over the past four seasons.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU expanded its partnership with Cromwell Media, naming 102.1 FM The Ville as the flagship TSU men’s basketball station. “The Voice of the Tigers” Greg Pogue returns for his 11th season behind the mic and will be reunited with his longtime partner Albert Dawson. The pregame show will begin 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the contest not the actual tip time in doubleheader situations. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app.
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (10-8, 2-3 OVC) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (7-11, 3-2 OVC)
Date/Time: Saturday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m. CT (approx 30 minutes after the WBB game)
Location: Hooper Eblen Center || Cookeville, Tenn.
TV: ESPN+ — Dylan Vazzanno (pxp), Michael Cooper (analyst)
Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)
LIVE STATS
TENNESSEE TECH SERIES INFORMATION: Saturday is the 75th all-time meeting between TSU and Tennessee Tech with the Tigers holding a 38-36 mark over the Golden Eagles. TSU is riding a three-game winning streak over its Volunteer State foe with head coach Penny Collins boasting a 6-2 mark against the Eagles. Last season, TSU defeated TTU 80-64 at the Gentry Center on Jan. 17 and then thumped them 92-56, in the largest OVC margin of victory during the Collins era.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are riding a three-game OVC winning streak into Saturday’s contest after knocking down Eastern Illinois, UT Martin, and Morehead State. Jaylen Sebree leads the Eagles in scoring at 13.3 points and rebounds (5.2) per game and is shooting 47.3 percent from the field while connecting on a team-best five field goals per contest. Jayvis Harvey is the second player in double figures for Tennessee Tech at 12.1 ppg. Harvey is a threat from the outside, knocking down 24-of-48 triples.
CLAY KEEPS 20+ STREAK ALIVE: Jr Clay’s 20+ points scoring streak is alive heading into his homecoming on Saturday at Tennessee Tech after he finished with 21 points in the loss to UT Martin on Thursday. Clay shot 5-of-16 from the field with six rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes for the Tigers.
MAKUOI MAKES HIS MARK: Adong Makuoi finished with 13 points and eight rebounds in the loss to UT Martin and tied his career-best with 31 minutes on the floor. His previous best was earlier this season at the SoCal Challenge against High Point where he added 12 points and five rebounds in the Sand Division Championship loss. Makuoi also had a 30-minute affair with South Carolina State in early November where he dropped 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds in TSU’s second win of the season.
TIGERS GET TO THE LINE BUT NO DICE: TSU made 23-of-29 from the charity stripe against UT Martin, good enough for 79.3 percent. Until the loss to UT Martin, TSU was 6-1 when it made 15 or more total free throws. The 79% is also the fourth-best percentage this season from the line.
