Ty Owens made a clutch three to put away TSU 90-85 | Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
Ty Owens made a clutch three to put away TSU 90-85 | Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
February 2, 2026

Owens’ late Dagger, Cameron’s 23: Tennessee Tech Takes Down TSU 90-85

Tennessee Tech led by as much as 20 and held off a late push with a clutch three by Ty Owens and big free throws by Mekhi Cameron to defeat TSU 90-85 for its second straight win.

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By/Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech led by as much as 20 and held off a late push with a clutch three by Ty Owens and big free throws by Mekhi Cameron to defeat TSU 90-85 for its second straight win. 

The Golden Eagles improve to 9-14 overall and 4-8 in the OVC with a second consecutive win, holding off the Tigers by five on Monday night in Nashville. TSU falls to 14-8 overall and 8-4 in conference play with the loss. Mekhi Cameron led the way with a career high 23 points on 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-7 from three. Three other Golden Eagles joined Cameron in double figures.

Brandon Muntu continues his impressive shooting over the last couple of games, scoring 16 points on 5-of-10 from the field (all threes), finishing with 5 made threes on 7 attempts. Dani Pounds poured in 15 points on 5-of-7 FG off the bench. Pounds also made 4-of-7 from the line. 

Ty Owens was clutch in a big spot as he made what proved to be the game-winning shot, hitting a three with 27 seconds left to break an 85-85 tie, and a pair of made free throws by Cameron helped extend the advantage to the final, 90-85. 

Owens finished with 13 points on 3-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-3 from three-point distance. He also sank 4-of-4 from the line.

The Golden Eagles built their lead in the first half on 57.7 percent shooting, making 15-26 from the field, including eight three pointers and 8-of-10 from the line. Tech went into the break with a 46-31 lead, paced by Cameron's 13 first-half points (4-7 FG).

In the second half, due to a 6-0 run with 17:49, Tech built its lead to 20 with 16:15 remaining in the game. TSU answered and ran out to a 12-0 jaunt with 2:07 left in the game, but solid shooting by Tech, going 13-27 from the field (48.1%) and clutch late points helped the Golden Eagles earn a hard-fought five-point win on the road.

Cameron followed his 13-point first half with a 10-point second half (3-5 FG, 2-3 3FG, 2-3 FT), and Owens showed his veteran leadership with 10 points (2-6 FG, 2-2 3FG, 4-4 FT) in the second stanza to push the Golden Eagles to a big victory. Cameron made clutch shot after clutch shot, including this big and-one late in the contest. 

Tech has won two in a row and has avenged two losses earlier in OVC play to Little Rock on Saturday and TSU on Monday night. TTU held the lead for 36:58, and TSU grasped the advantage for just 1:04. Tech's largest lead was 20 points, and TSU's biggest advantage was just two points early in the first half.

TSU's largest edge was points in the paint, holding a 44-24 lead. Tech recovered from a 21-turnover game on Saturday and only gave the ball away nine times while forcing 12 from the home team. The Golden Eagles scored 18 points off those 12 turnovers by the Tigers.

Malik Ferguson chipped in with six points, and Jah'Kim Payne added five points off the bench. Grant Slatten posted five points.

There were four lead changes, and the game was tied just once. The victory marked back-to-back games with the Golden Eagles shooting over 50 percent.

The offense has been clicking with TTU scoring 90 points for the first time since dropping 101 on Bethel (Tenn.) on Dec. 13 at home. It's the first time this season that Tech has scored 90 points on the road, besting its previous high of 88 points at USC Upstate on Nov. 19.

NEXT UP
 The Golden Eagles return to Cookeville to host Western Illinois on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Eastern Illinois on Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Hooper Eblen Center.

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