Golden Eagles Return to Hooper Eblen Center Against Bethel (Tenn.) Saturday
Tennessee Tech men’s basketball (4-6, 0-0 OVC) returns to Hooper Eblen Center after a five-game road trip to host Bethel (Tenn.) (9-1, 0-0) at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
27 | 42 | 69 |
|
|
51 | 50 | 101 |
Team Stats
Bethel (Tenn.)
| Game Statistics | Bethel (Tenn.) | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (29-72) | (33-60) |
| Field Goal % | 40.3% | 55.0% |
| Rebounds | 35 | 41 |
| Assists | 13 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 17 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 21 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 12 | 7 |
| Pts in the Paint | 36 | 46 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 19 | 31 |
| Bench Pts | 45 | 42 |
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech men's basketball (4-6, 0-0 OVC) returns to Hooper Eblen Center after a five-game road trip to host Bethel (Tenn.) (9-1, 0-0) at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles spent most of the last month on the road after going 2-3 during a season-long five-game road trip that began with an 88-84 win over USC Upstate on Nov. 19. The roadie finished with the most complete performance of the season in an 87-59 dominant win over West Georgia. Tech exacted some revenge against UWG after falling to the Wolves at home by two points in mid-November (L, 59-61, 11/17).
Tennessee Tech is 13-2 all-time against Bethel (Tenn.), with the last meeting taking place on Dec. 12, 2023. The Golden Eagles won that matchup 81-74 at home and hold a 7-0 record against the Wildcats at Eblen Center. Tech's two losses in the series were back during the 1926-27 season (39-17) and the 1924-25 campaign (23-20).
Game Information
Matchup: Tennessee Tech (4-6, 0-0 OVC) vs. Bethel (Tenn.) (9-1, 0-0)
Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. CT.
Venue: Hooper Eblen Center
Series: Tennessee Tech leads 13-2 (16th meeting)
Watch: ESPN+ | Noah McKay (PxP) and Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle | Jacob Vinson (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)
Live Stats: STATBROADCAST
The Golden Eagles used a career-high 21 points from Dani Pounds and a stellar team effort to get a revenge-win over West Georgia, 87-59, on the road in their most recent contest on Dec. 6. Three other Golden Eagles scored in double figures with Mekhi Cameron posting 15 points (5-8 FG), Brandon Muntu scoring 15 points (6-9 FG), and Ja'Quavian Florence adding 13 points (5-7 FG) to lead TTU to the win.
Tech posted the second-best shooting percentage this season in the win over West Georgia, shooting 57.9 percent (33-57). It marked the third time during the 2025-26 campaign that the Golden Eagles have shot over 50 percent as a team from the field. TTU is 2-1 when it shoots over 50 percent in a game.
Mekhi Cameron leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game, appearing in 25.1 minutes per contest, while shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from three, and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line. Dani Pounds is second on the team with 12.0 points per game, while playing 17.4 minutes per contest, shooting 56.9 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three (4-9 3FG), and 85.0 percent from the free-throw line.
JaJuan Nicholls is the third player in double figures, averaging 10.2 points per game, appearing in 15.9 minutes per contest, while shooting a team-high 69.8 percent from the field, and 51.9 percent from the free-throw line.
SCORING LEADERS
Cameron has scored in double figures in each of the last two games, recording 14 points (4-9 FG, 44.4) against Lipscomb (12/3) and 15 points at West Georgia (5-8 FG, 62.5) to tally his seventh game in double digits in 10 games played, leading the team in that category. Cameron leads the team with 121 total points this season. Nicholls posted the Golden Eagles' only double-double of the season, scoring 22 pts and grabbing 10 rebounds against Va. Lynchburg (11/10). TTU's win over Va. Lynchburg featured two players with 20 points in the same game for the first and only time so far this season (Nicholls, 22, Turner, 20). Nicholls is third on the team with 102 points this season. Pounds is second on the team with 120 points, 40 of those coming in the last two games.
OVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Junior forward Dani Pounds has recorded double digits in two straight games and in six of his last seven. He took home OVC Newcomer of the week after scoring 40 points in two games (19 vs. Lipscomb, 8-14; 57.1%) and a career-high 21 at West Georgia (12/6) on 7-of-9 (77.8%) shooting, while knocking down 6-of-6 free throws. Pounds averaged 20 points per game through two games and has made eight straight free throws. OVC Men's Basketball Press Release
Dani Pounds Named OVC Newcomer of the Week!
— TTU Men's Basketball (@TTU_Basketball) December 8, 2025
��️: https://t.co/bTRdwNQoN8#WingsUp pic.twitter.com/yEiaCMCAc9
AT HOME
The Golden Eagles return to Hooper Eblen Center for the first time in nearly a month. Tech holds a 2-1 record at home this season and has outscored opponents 263-183.
WRAPPING UP NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Golden Eagles play their final non-conference game against Bethel (Tenn.), looking to enter OVC play on a high note before SEMO comes to Eblen Center on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. to open the OVC slate.
OPPONENT NOTES
Bethel (Tenn.) is 9-1 overall and has won eight straight regular-season games. Bethel hails from the NAIA in the Mid-South Conference and faces Tennessee Tech for the 16th time in program history.
Senior guard #2 Chancey Hughes III leads the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per contest, playing 23.5 minutes per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from three, and 89.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Senior guard #10 David Starr is second on the team with 11.0 points per game, averaging 18.5 minutes per contest, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three, and 69.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Junior forward #50 Ethan Turner is third on the team with 10.9 points per game, averaging 23.5 minutes per contest, while shooting 46.0 FG, 21.3 3FG, and 43.8 FT. Sophomore guard #21 Brayden Nunnally marks the final Wildcat averaging double figures with 10.6 points per game, averaging 28.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 54.1 percent from the field, 55.6 percent from three, and 64.7 percent from the free-throw line.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Men's Basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or order online at TTUsports.com.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Fans can be sure to follow the Golden Eagles men's basketball team on X (@TTU_Basketball), Instagram (TTUMBB), and Facebook (TTU MBB) for all of the news, notes, and updates.
