Tennessee Tech Outlasts UMKC In BracketBuster, 68-62

Tennessee Tech converted with big shots down the stretch to pull away from Kansas City in the annual BracketBuster event on Saturday at the Eblen Center, 68-62.
The 'Roos (7-22) and Golden Eagles (11-16) went back-and-forth in the opening 20 minutes, with six ties, while neither squad led by more than five points. TTU led by a 7-3 score in the opening minutes, but it was a sloppy first half, with points hard to come by. With 13:19 on the clock, the 'Roos knotted the score at 13, and eventually took their first lead with 10:40 remaining on a Trinity Hall layup, 15-13.
The 'Roos got up by five with 6:14 left, but an 8-0 run gave the advantage back to the Golden Eagles with 4:36 to play. TTU held on for a 28-25 advantage at the break.
UMKC couldn't get the offense going in the half, hitting only 29 percent from the floor, but Tennessee Tech wasn't much better, hitting 34.6 percent. Estan Tyler and Nelson Kirksey had six points apiece, while Fred Chatmon posted a game-high seven rebounds. His effort helped Kansas City record a 26-18 advantage on the glass in the period. The leading scorer was TTU's Jud Dillard with 10 points.
The second stanza was tight as well, with three ties in the first five minutes. Chatmon tied the game for a fourth time on a layup with 12:14 left, 36-36. The Eagles used the game's first significant run to pull in front though, scoring the next nine points over a span of 2:13. The rally was spurred by Lanerryl Johnson, who had six of those points.
The 'Roos didn't quit though, getting within one at the 6:14 mark on a big three-pointer from Kirk Korver. TTU got it back to six after a couple free throws from Dillard, but back-to-back threes from Tyler and Korver tied it at 58 with 3:48 on the clock (the first tie since the 12:14 mark). The Golden Eagles hit a couple free throws to get the lead back, and followed with a huge three by Jeremia Samarrippas to extend the advantage to five with 1:39 left.
The 'Roos got it to three, but TTU again answered with a big jumper with 20 seconds left to seal it. The two squads lit it up in the second half, with UMKC hitting 50 percent and TTU drilling 58.3 percent. That proved to be the difference, as well as free throws.
Kirksey finished with 16 to lead UMKC, while Tyler tallied 14. Kirksey's total was the second game in a row with 15+ and only the third of his career. Chatmon pulled down 10 boards, his seventh double-figure rebound game of the season. UMKC took a 37-32 rebound edge.
Dillard led all scorers with 20 points for TTU, while three others finished in double-figures.
Kansas City will finish the regular season with two road games this week, starting with a Thursday contest at Western Illinois at 7:00 p.m.