March 2, 2013

Tech ends season on high note, tops Morehead State on Senior Night

Dennis Ogbe pumped in a career-high 26 points and Jud Dillard added 23 as Tennessee Tech wrapped up the 2012-13 season with a 72-66 OVC victory over Morehead State Saturday night.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Dennis Ogbe made sure that his senior teammates, Jud Dillard and Terrell Barnes, would go out in style Saturday night. And in dramatic fashion.

The junior from Germany scored from inside and outside on his way to a career-high 26 points, leading Tennessee Tech to an exciting, last-minute 72-66 victory over Morehead State in Ohio Valley Conference play on Senior Night in the Eblen Center.

Tech (12-17/5-11 OVC) saw its season come to a close on a high note with the victory. The Golden Eagles were eliminated from the post-season earlier in the day, but still left everything on the floor.

Morehead State (14-17/8-8 OVC) advances to the OVC Tournament next week as the No. 5 seed.

Ogbe was 9-for-15 overall from the floor, including 5-of-8 from long distance, in his way to being the game’s high scorer. He also had six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Dillard nearly matched him, finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in his final game in a Golden Eagle uniform. Barnes had five rebounds in his last action.

Angelo Warner led Morehead State with 11 points and six rebounds while Chad Posthumous added 10 points and six rebounds. Eleven of the 12 Eagles who saw action scored.

Junior Jeremiah Samarrippas added nine points and five assists, scoring Tech’s final five points in clutch fashion. With the contest tied at 66-all, the point guard fired up a long 3-pointer that hit nothin’ but net with 52 seconds left, giving Tech a 69-66 lead.

Following a steal by Dillard, Samarrippas drained two free throws with 13 seconds left to make it 71-66.

Barnes grabbed a rebound on the defensive end that led to one final free throw by Dillard with one second left for the final margin. It was fitting that Dillard scored the final point of the season and Barnes retrieved the final rebound of the year for coach Steve Payne’s squad.

Neither team ever held control of the contest, with seven points being the largest margin both ways. The scored was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands 12 times.

Golden Eagle seniors Terrell Barnes (left) and Jud Dillard were joined by family members in pregame Senior Night ceremonies.