Tech downs Bryan College, 76-48, to open season in the win column

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Daniel Northern scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to a 76-48 victory over Bryan College Saturday night in Eblen Center to open the regular season.

Northern was the leading scorer for the Golden Eagles (1-0), and one of four players to notch double figures in the scoring column. Guard Will Barnes had 15 points and eight rebounds, while both Alex Davis and freshman Kevin Murphy added 10 points.

Scott Newton was the game's leading point-getter, knocking down 21 points and snaring nine rebounds for Bryan. Kyle Terry scored a dozen points.

Tech finished the game shooting 55 percent from the field (32-for-58), including 67 percent inside the 3-point line. Tech was 7-for-21 for 33 percent from outside the arc, and hit 38.5 percent (5-for-13) at the free throw line.

Bryan shot 34 percent (18-for-53) from the field, 27.8 percent (5-for-18) from long distance and 50 percent (7-for-14) from the charity line.

Tech owned a 46-26 advantage in rebounds.

Bryan College tied the game at 3-3 on a 3-pointer by Kyle Terry at the 16:34 mark, but never had a lead in the contest. The Lions made it a one-point game, 14-13, when Demond Craig drained a 3-pointer with 11:15 to play in the half.

The Golden Eagles netted the next 12 points to grab a 25-13 advantage, and the nearest Bryan got after that was seven points, 25-18, with 3:22 to play before the break.

Tech's lead never slipped into single digits in the second half, growing to 20 points at the 5:22 mark when Murphy's jumper made it 62-42. The Golden Eagles used a late 12-2 run to build their margin to 30 points, 74-44, before setting for the final difference.

Tech's next action is Tuesday in Nashville in the second game of a doubleheader at Lipscomb University, with tipoff slated for 8:15 p.m.