SIUE Cougars (7-9, 1-2 OVC) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (4-12, 1-2 OVC)

Thursday, January 20, 6:00 p.m.
Hooper Eblen Center (7,500)
Cookeville, Tennessee

LAST TIME
An efficient night offensively wasn't enough for SIUE Monday, as the Cougars fell to Belmont 80-64 at First Community Arena. The Cougars had three players score in double figures, connected on 46 percent of their shots and collected 17 assists on 23 made baskets, but were hampered by turnovers. The Bruins forced 20 turnovers and used them to generate 23 points. The Bruins also outrebounded SIUE 34-28.

CONFERENCE CALL
SIUE is playing its 11th Ohio Valley Conference season. The Cougars are 54-118 in OVC play. Head Coach Brian Barone has a 13-27 record in OVC play. 

ROAD WARRIORS
SIUE plays five of its next six games on the road. The Cougars played eight of their first nine games away from home. SIUE has three road wins this season. Last season, SIUE set a new mark for road wins in a season in the Division I era with six.

FOUR SCORE
Ray'Sean Taylor has won the OVC Freshman of the Week award four times this season, incuding last week. He is the first SIUE player to win more than three weekly OVC awards in the same season. 

CLAMPING DOWN
SIUE is one of the OVC's best defensive teams, allowing 66.5 points per game, which is third. Cougars' opponents are shooting just .402 overall and .300 from three-point range, which both are the best marks in the OVC and 57th and 39th, respectively in the NCAA.

SHARP SHOOTERS
SIUE shot 46 percent at EIU. It marked the ninth time this year that the Cougars have hit at least 45 percent of its shots in a game. SIUE connected on a season-high 52 percent of its shots Dec. 8 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne. Last year, the team's season-best was 58 percent against Tennessee Tech.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Cougars are second in the OVC at 39.0 rebounds per game, which is 50th in the NCAA. SIUE is second in total rebounds at 624. The Cougars lead the OVC in offensive rebounds at 12.9 a game, which is 27th in the NCAA.