PREVIEW: Cougs to Face Motlow State in TCCAA Play-In Game Friday
#9 Men's Basketball will open their 2020 TCCAA Tournament against #8 Motlow State on Friday afternoon. Their play-in game is set to begin at 3:00 ET at host school Columbia State.
The Cougars finished the regular season last Saturday with a 9-18 overall record and a 6-12 record in the TCCAA. They faced the Bucks, who have a 14-16 record and an 8-10 conference mark, twice this regular season, falling in an overtime thriller in Tullahoma, Tenn. in January and another tight contest on their home floor in February.
However, Cleveland State faced similar odds last season as they opened against Motlow State in the opening round of the 2019 TCCAA Tournament and knocked off the then #2 seeded Bucks to go on and eventually win the TCCAA Championship. The Cougars will hope to start their tournament off with a similar result this year as well.
Cleveland State will hope that two of their sophomores will continue to have a hot hand. Jakobey Hitchens has posted double-digit point totals in five of the Cougars' last six games, scoring 21 in each of the last two. Demonte Person has also put together a nice scoring streak, as he has also scored double-digit points six of the last seven games and also leads the Cougars in assists per game, averaging 4.7 assists per contest.
If the Cougars win on Friday, they will advance to the quarterfinals to face #1 seeded Dyersburg State. That game would get underway on Saturday at 3:00 ET.
Last Three Games
2/15 at Columbia State, 83-60 L
2/19 at Chattanooga State, 80-75 L
2/22 vs. Dyersburg State, 115-81
Next Three Games
2/28-3/3 at TCCAA Tournament, TBD
Full Men's Basketball Schedule & Results
Cleveland State Leaders
Points/Game: Kerry Pratt, 13.9
Assists/Game: Demonte Person, 4.7
Rebounds/Game: Jaquez Hicks, 6.7
Full Men's Basketball Statistics
Motlow State Leaders
Points/Game: Darius Harding, 19.3 (fourth in TCCAA)
Assists/Game: Derrick Rayford, 5.8 (third in TCCAA)
Rebounds/Game: Jace Wallace, 9.4 (first in TCCAA)