Saturday, February 23rd, 4:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Center (13,000) -- Johnson City, Tennessee. Television: None. Home Record: TTU 6-6, ETSU 10-2. Away Record: TTU 6-11, ETSU 4-8. Neutral Record: TTU 0-0, ETSU 1-2. Conference Record: TTU 9-10, ETSU 9-5. Series Record: Series is tied, 33-33.

GAME NOTES: Instate foes collide at the Memorial Center today, as the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles clash with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers as part of a BracketBuster series. The Eagles come into the game well rested, as they have been out of play since suffering an 80-76 setback at Austin Peay a week ago. It was the second straight loss by TTU, which dipped to 12-17 overall and 6-11 on the road. As for ETSU, it was just in action on Thursday, when it was trounced at Gardner-Webb, 96-70. The loss was the second in three games, as the Bucs dipped to 15-12 overall. The team though, now returns back home, where it has gone a solid 10-2 thus far. ETSU and TTU used to be former conference foes, so there is some history between the programs. The all-time series between the clubs in knotted at 33-33, with the last meeting taking place during the 2004-05 season.

At the offensive end of the court is where the Eagles have done a solid job this season, averaging 75.3 ppg on 46.0 percent shooting from the floor. Anthony Fisher heads the squad in scoring at 16.8 ppg and he is also dishing out a team-best 3.6 apg. Amadi McKenzie ranks second in both scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg), while Daniel Northern nearly averages a double- double with 12.3 ppg and a team-high 9.0 rpg. In the squad's last game, TTU shot 45.1 percent from the field, including a 7-of-16 effort from three-point range, but it still wasn't enough to overcome 21 costly turnovers in a loss at Austin Peay. Northern notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the setback, and Fisher turned in 11 points and five assists.

Much like TTU, ETSU has fared well on offense this season, netting a hardy 77.7 ppg on 44.9 percent shooting from the floor. Kevin Tiggs and Courtney Pigram are tied for the team-lead in scoring at 15.7 ppg, with Tiggs also grabbing 5.7 rpg and Pigram dishing out 3.4 apg. Andrew Reed is the squad's top rebounder at 6.1 rpg and he fills out the double-figure scorers with 10.3 ppg. In the team's most recent contest, ETSU turned the ball over 24 times and that resulted in 34 points for Gardner-Webb in a lopsided loss. The Bucs shot a dismal 34.7 percent from the floor, including a poor 4-of-25 performance from three-point range. Tiggs guided the team with 24 points and six boards, while Pigram had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Both teams like to push the tempo, so expect a high scoring affair today. ETSU has the edge playing at home and it should be able to outlast TTU behind the efforts of Tiggs and Pigram.

Predicted Outcome

East Tennessee State 80, Tennessee Tech 75