COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Tennessee Tech used a decisive second-half surge to defeat Lindenwood 72-57 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Eblen Center. The Golden Eagles, leading 31-29 at halftime, outscored the Lions 41-28 after intermission. JaJuan Nicholls led Tennessee Tech with 16 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Muntu and Ty Owens also scored 16 points each, with Owens adding six assists. Jadis Jones grabbed 14 rebounds for Lindenwood, while Mekhi Cooper scored a team-high 15 points. The Lions struggled offensively, shooting just 36.8% from the field and committing 12 turnovers, which Tennessee Tech converted into 14 points. The Golden Eagles improved to 13-16 overall. Lindenwood fell to 16-13. Attendance was 1,247.

ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — A decisive second-half surge propelled Tennessee Tech to a 72-57 victory over Lindenwood in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Eblen Center, avenging a 21-point loss to the Lions just a month prior. The Golden Eagles, who trailed by two at halftime, outscored the Lions 41-28 after intermission, leveraging a stifling defensive effort and efficient offense to pull away. The win improved Tennessee Tech to 13-16 overall, while Lindenwood fell to 16-13. The most critical stretch of the game began early in the second half. With Tennessee Tech leading 34-31, the Golden Eagles unleashed a 13-2 run over a four-minute span to seize control. The burst was fueled by active hands and transition opportunities. It started with a steal by JaJuan Nicholls leading to a Brandon Muntu 3-pointer, continued with a Nicholls dunk off a Ty Owens assist, and was capped by another Owens-assisted 3-pointer from Muntu. During this run, Lindenwood committed three turnovers, which Tennessee Tech converted into seven points, highlighting a key disparity in the game. The Lions finished with 12 turnovers leading to 14 Golden Eagle points, while Tennessee Tech’s 10 turnovers yielded only six points for Lindenwood. Nicholls, a 6-foot-8 forward from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was the catalyst for Tennessee Tech, delivering a dominant all-around performance with 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 28 minutes. His defensive presence, particularly with a pair of second-half steals during the decisive run, disrupted Lindenwood’s rhythm. He was complemented by backcourt mates Muntu and Owens, who each also scored 16 points. Muntu added eight rebounds, while Owens chipped in six rebounds and a game-high six assists. Lindenwood, which entered the game as a slight pregame favorite, struggled offensively throughout, posting an offensive rating of just 85.3 points per 100 possessions. The Lions shot 36.8% from the field and managed only two assists as a team, a season-low mark that underscored their difficulties in generating consistent offense against Tennessee Tech’s pressure. Jadis Jones worked tirelessly for Lindenwood, hauling in 14 rebounds to go with eight points, four assists and a block. Mekhi Cooper led the Lions in scoring with 15 points, all from beyond the arc, while Dontrez Williams added 13 points and Anias Futrell scored 11. The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring seven lead changes. Lindenwood built an early 8-2 advantage behind 3-pointers from Cooper and Milos Nenadic, but Tennessee Tech responded with an 8-0 run of its own. The Lions took a 29-28 lead into the final minute before a Mekhi Cameron layup just before the halftime buzzer gave the Golden Eagles a slim 31-29 edge at the break, setting the stage for their second-half explosion. Tennessee Tech’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 111.5 points per 100 possessions. The Golden Eagles shot 46.3% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range, and a crisp 87.5% from the free-throw line. They also won the battle in transition, outscoring Lindenwood 9-2 in fastbreak points. The game, attended by 1,247 fans, saw the total points fall well under the pregame over/under line of 153.5. The victory completed a regular-season split for Tennessee Tech, which suffered an 89-68 defeat at Lindenwood on Jan. 22. Lindenwood looks to rebound when it hosts Eastern Illinois on Thursday. Tennessee Tech hits the road for its next contest, visiting Tennessee-Martin on Thursday.

Lions, Golden Eagles Set for OVC Rematch in Algood ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Lindenwood Lions will look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their standing when they visit the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Eblen Center. Lindenwood (16-11, 8-6 OVC) enters with the better overall record but is seeking to rebound from a 73-61 home loss to Southeast Missouri State last Saturday. The Lions had won three of their previous four games prior to that defeat. Tennessee Tech (11-16, 6-8) arrives with momentum after an 82-74 road victory at Southern Indiana last weekend, snapping a two-game skid. The Golden Eagles will aim to protect their home court and avenge a lopsided loss from earlier this season. The Lions dominated the first meeting, a 89-68 win in St. Charles, Missouri, on Jan. 22. Lindenwood’s offense has been potent, averaging 78.2 points in its last five outings. A key player to watch is Lindenwood guard Anias Futrell, who is averaging 20.3 points over his last seven games. He scored 22 points in the loss to SEMO and poured in 26 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in a narrow win at Morehead State on Jan. 31. Tennessee Tech will counter with guard Ty Owens, who facilitates the offense. Owens is coming off a 13-point, 3-assist performance in the win at Southern Indiana and had 13 points and 6 assists in a blowout win over Western Illinois on Feb. 5. The matchup features contrasting trajectories. Lindenwood sits in the upper half of the OVC standings and is jockeying for postseason positioning, while Tennessee Tech looks to build on its recent road win and climb out of the conference’s lower tier. Saturday’s contest tips off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Following this game, Lindenwood will host Eastern Illinois on Feb. 26, while Tennessee Tech travels to face Tennessee-Martin on the same date.