Tennessee Tech Men’s Basketball Opens Season at Western Kentucky
Tennessee Tech men’s basketball opens the 2025-26 season on the road at Western Kentucky. Tip is at 6:30 p.m. CT and the game can be watched on ESPN+ and listened to on 106.1 The Eagle.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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28 | 42 | 70 |
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41 | 41 | 82 |
Team Stats
WKU
| Game Statistics | Tennessee Tech | WKU |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (27-61) | (26-62) |
| Field Goal % | 44.3% | 41.9% |
| Rebounds | 36 | 42 |
| Assists | 19 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 11 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 25 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 13 | 18 |
| Pts in the Paint | 28 | 38 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 21 | 46 |
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Tennessee Tech men's basketball opens the 2025-26 season on the road at Western Kentucky. Tip is at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game can be watched on ESPN+ and listened to on 106.1 The Eagle.
Tennessee Tech features returner JaJuan Nicholls and Mekhi Cameron, who were named Players to Watch by the OVC in early October. The Golden Eagles feature 13 newcomers and three returners to the 2025-26 roster. Tech was picked to finish seventh in the OVC preseason poll that was released in early October.
Game Information
Matchup: Tennessee Tech (0-0, 0-0) at Western Kentucky (0-0, 0-0) | Live Stats
Date: Monday, Nov. 3
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Venue: E.A. Diddle Arena
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
Watch: ESPN+ - Tyler Eaton (PxP) and Greg Davis (Analyst)
Listen: 106.1 The Eagle – Dylan Vazzano (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)
"I'm just super excited. We have an outstanding group of young leaders. I feel like our coaching staff killed it on the human being front," said Head Coach John Pelphrey at OVC Media Day. "I really appreciate our assistant coaches, they have listened and understand what I work well with, and they are guys who are respectful young men who love the game of basketball, who actually need it. When I see these guys in the gym all of the time it makes me feel really good."
Coach Pelphrey continued. "My optimism and excitement for the season is because of those young men."
Tech is 20-81 (101 meetings) all-time against Western Kentucky in series history. The first-ever matchup was in 1933 when Tech won 35-32 in Cookeville.
The Golden Eagles finished 15-17 overall and 10-10 in the OVC last season, dropping a first-round matchup to UT Martin in the OVC Tournament to end the season. A mostly revamped roster that returns only two players who appeared in the OVC Tournament from a season ago (JaJuan Nicholls and Grant Slatten).
"I'm really excited for this upcoming season. I know my team and I have put in a tremendous amount of work these past few months," said Junior Guard Ty Owens at OVC Media Day. "I think were ready to get out there and make a statement."
Owens spoke about the team, "I think definitely our chemistry. These past few months, we've held each other to a high standard on and off the court. I feel like we have a true brotherhood that we've created in a short amount of time." Owens on the teams goals for the season, "Our biggest goal is to continue to grow together and compete at the highest level every night. Putting ourselves in the best position to win a conference championship and staying consistent night-in and night-out."
Transfers Mekhi Turner, Dani Pounds, and Jacobe Whitted stood out in the two exhibition games as Tech defeated SC Central Christian 99-38 and fell by a slim margin 74-70 at Belmont to close the preseason.
Turner scored 17 points to lead five players in double digits. Pounds scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Whitted added 12 points, Mekhi Cameron tallied 11 points, and C.J. McPherson finished with 10 points against SC Central Christian.
At Belmont, transfer Brandon Muntu led the Golden Eagles with 14 points and grabbed three boards. Cameron scored 11 points, Whitted chipped in 10 points, and Nicholls added nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Tech adds some offensive firepower to the mix, including transfers:
- Ja'Quavian Florence, averaging 11.4 points per game over four seasons at Charleston Southern (40 games) and Lees McRae (57 games).
- Brandon Muntu scored 224 total points and grabbed 68 rebounds during two seasons at Western Michigan (38 games).
- Ty Owens averaged 12 points per game, dished out 4.4 assists per game, and recorded 98 steals at Polk State College.
- Dani Pounds scored 174 total points and grabbed 175 rebounds during his two seasons at Old Dominion (61 games).
- Malik Ferguson recorded 79 points over two seasons at Georgia State (33 games), with 32 rebounds, 12 steals, and 3 blocks.
NEXT UP
The Golden Eagles stay on the road at Charlotte on Nov. 7 with the tip scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Find the complete men's basketball schedule here.
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.
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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.
