Tech turns up pressure, stays perfect in OVC with 81-68 win at EIU
After not winning a road game in its previous nine trips out of Eblen Center, Tennessee Tech now has its second straight road win in three days. The Golden Eagles used their pressure defense at the outset of the second half to overtake the Eastern Illinois, and improved to 6-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 81-68 win Saturday night. The Golden Eagles also bring their overall winning streak to seven games.
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After not winning a road game in its previous nine trips out of Eblen Center, Tennessee Tech now has its second straight road win in three days. The Golden Eagles used their pressure defense at the outset of the second half to overtake the Eastern Illinois, and improved to 6-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 81-68 win Saturday night. The Golden Eagles also bring their overall winning streak to seven games.
"We turned it up a notch in the second half, and our kids did a great job of responding to the pressure tonight," said head coach Mike Sutton. "It's good to get another win, but there's still a lot of basketball left to play."
Five players scored in double figures for the Golden Eagles, as Willie Jenkins followed up his double-double at Southeast Missouri with a 21-point performance against the Panthers. Keyon Boyd tied a career-high with 18 points before fouling out late in the second half, ending a near-perfect night with five assists and six steals. Tech remained tied for first place in the OVC with Samford, a winner at EKU Saturday night. Derek Stribling added 11 points, while Anthony Fisher and Milone Clark each had 10 in the victory.
TTU used a 22-7 run to start the second half, as a four-point halftime deficit turned into an 11-point lead. The Golden Eagles would never look back, as they wouldn't trail the rest of the contest. They held the Panthers to just 35 percent shooting from the floor in the second half.
"We take pride in our work ethic, and we know we're going to have to outwork people to win games in this league," said Sutton. "We just look forward to playing our next game and working in our next practice, and to get better."
EIU used the familiarity of its homecourt and its ability to get to the foul line to get back into the ballgame. The Panthers cut the Golden Eagles lead to just six with less than four minutes to play, but perhaps the biggest of the night was a three-pointer from the corner from freshman Anthony Fisher to give Tech a nine-point advantage.
The Golden Eagles used their pressure defense what seemed on each Eastern Illinois possession of the second half. It worked to perfection, as TTU forced 20 Panther turnovers in the game.
TTU shot 46 percent in the game, compared to just under 42 percent for EIU. Tech outrebounded EIU 36-31, as Jenkins had a game-high nine rebounds. Clark added eight rebounds. Tech was also 23-of-36 from the foul line in the game.
By halftime, Boyd had 15 points, three assists and four steals. His numbers stood out in a half where the team statistics were virtually even. EIU had a 17-14 rebound edge, and the Panthers shot 48 percent compared to 43 percent by the Golden Eagles. Turnover and assists were equal, both teams had 12 points in the paint and 11 points off turnovers.
The opening 20 minutes was close from start to finish, with the score tied five times.
The Golden Eagles will venture back on the road next Tuesday
(Jan. 25) when it visits rival Austin Peay in Clarksville for a
7:30 p.m. contest.
GAME NOTES: EIU ranks first in the OVC in 3-point field goal
defense against, limiting its foes this year to 32 percent...Tech
owns an 11-8 edge in the all-time series with EIU, including six of
the last seven games...
