Gamecocks Fall To Tennessee Tech In Final Road Game

Saturday, February 22

Cookeville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

10-20, 4-11

Tennessee Tech

15-14, 8-6

Team	1	2	F
Jacksonville State	22	35	57
Tennessee Tech	37	32	69

2/22/2014 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – An early run by Tennessee Tech did the Jacksonville State men's basketball team in on Saturday, when the Gamecocks dropped a 69-57 Ohio Valley Conference contest to the Golden Eagles.

The Gamecocks (10-20, 4-11 OVC) held an early five-point lead, but the Golden Eagles (15-14, 8-6 OVC) went on a 16-2 run to grab the lead and didn't look back.

Senior Brian Williams had 13 and was the lone Gamecock in double figures, while senior Giovanni Smith, junior Darion Rackley and sophomore Michael Louder each scored eight points in the loss.

JSU managed just under 38 percent shooting on the night and was 4-for-20 from behind the arc, while the Golden Eagles used an inside presence to shoot over 45 percent. They outscored JSU 44-28 in the paint and won the battle on the glass, 43-34.

Tennessee Tech got a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds from Dennis Ogbe on his Senior Night. He was one of four Golden Eagles in double figures and one of three with 13 points in the win. Fellow senior Jeremiah Samarrippas and Dwan Caldwell also had a baker's dozen in the scoring column.

The Gamecocks got eight early points from senior Giovanni Smith, who knocked down a couple of 3-pointers to help JSU pull out to an early lead. The largest lead was 12-7 with 13:25 to play in the first half, but the Golden Eagles turned it on at that points. They went to the basket, where they outscored JSU 22-10 in the paint in the first half. TTU put together a 16-2 run that built a 23-14 advantage and carried a 37-22 lead into the half.

The Gamecocks slowly cut into the lead to start the second half, getting to within 10 twice, but they couldn't get into single digits. After JSU cut it to 41-31 five minutes into the half, TTU answered with eight in a row to build its lead back up.

The Gamecocks will conclude the 2013-14 season on Saturday at home against league leader Belmont. It will be Senior Day at Pete Mathews Coliseum, and the Gamecocks will honor the program's four seniors in a postgame ceremony.