COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After taking an 11-point lead into the locker room at halftime, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team allowed Tennessee Tech University to hit 13 of its first 14 second half shots and eventually lost in overtime, 83-81, on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (10-11, 2-6 OVC) used a 12-0 run to turn a 57-49 deficit into a 61-57 lead with 8:08 left in the game. TTU led by as many as four several times down the stretch, including 71-67 on a three-pointer by Aleksa Jugovic with 1:44 left in regulation.
The Colonels (11-8, 3-3 OVC) drew within one on a lay-up and free throw by Corey Walden before Mason Ramsey went to the line for the home team with a chance to put his team up three. He made just one with 19.7 seconds showing on the clock. Walden drew a foul with 4.8 seconds remaining and converted both to tie the game 72-72. Torrence Rowe got off a running jumper in the lane for Tech at the buzzer, but the shot missed.
A steal and a lay-up from Walden gave EKU a 74-73 lead in overtime, but Tennessee Tech scored a pair of baskets to go in front by three. Eric Stutz tied it for the final time on a lay-up with 35.2 seconds left in the extra period. Josiah Moore answered with a baseline jumper on the other end to put Tech back on top with 7.2 seconds to go. Walden got off a long three-point attempt at the buzzer for the win, but the shot hit off the iron.
Walden finished with 22 points, seven assists, three steals and three rebounds. Stutz added 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Timmy Knipp added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Five players scored in double figures for Tech. Charles Jackson finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, his OVC-best 14th double-double of the season. Jugovic hit four three-pointers and had 14 points.
Second half free throw shooting kept both teams from winning the game in regulation. Eastern went 11-of-16 at the stripe while the Golden Eagles hit just 5-of-12.
The Colonels will be back in action on Thursday for a nationally televised game at Murray State. The ESPNU broadcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET.
NOTES
This week marks the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Cancer Society’s Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week. The EKU coaching staff wore sneakers with their suits to help raise awareness for the fight against cancer.
With three steals, Corey Walden passed John Allen (187) and moved into third place on EKU’s all-time steals list. He is now two away from sole possession of second place. Walden needs 33 more steals to break the EKU career record of 221.
Eastern Kentucky has allowed 70 or more points in three of its last four games and has lost all three. EKU allowed just three of its first 15 opponents to reach 70 points.
Corey Walden began the day as the only player in the OVC ranked in the top-10 in scoring (3rd), field goal percentage (8th), assists (7th) and steals (1st). He finished with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, seven assists and three steals.
Tennessee Tech entered the game leading the OVC in rebounding (37.5 rpg) and second in offensive rebounds (13.0 rpg). TTU finished with 37 rebounds, 15 of which came off the offensive glass.
Eastern Kentucky entered the game second in the nation in turnover margin (+8.8) and fifth in steals (10.1 spg). The Colonels committed just four fewer turnovers despite making 12 steals.
EKU leads the all-time series with Tennessee Tech, 71-58. Eastern is now 27-36 in games played in Cookeville.
Comments
