ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — A decisive second-half surge propelled Tennessee Tech to a 72-57 victory over Lindenwood in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Eblen Center, avenging a 21-point loss to the Lions just a month prior.

The Golden Eagles, who trailed by two at halftime, outscored the Lions 41-28 after intermission, leveraging a stifling defensive effort and efficient offense to pull away. The win improved Tennessee Tech to 13-16 overall, while Lindenwood fell to 16-13.

The most critical stretch of the game began early in the second half. With Tennessee Tech leading 34-31, the Golden Eagles unleashed a 13-2 run over a four-minute span to seize control. The burst was fueled by active hands and transition opportunities. It started with a steal by JaJuan Nicholls leading to a Brandon Muntu 3-pointer, continued with a Nicholls dunk off a Ty Owens assist, and was capped by another Owens-assisted 3-pointer from Muntu. During this run, Lindenwood committed three turnovers, which Tennessee Tech converted into seven points, highlighting a key disparity in the game. The Lions finished with 12 turnovers leading to 14 Golden Eagle points, while Tennessee Tech’s 10 turnovers yielded only six points for Lindenwood.

Nicholls, a 6-foot-8 forward from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was the catalyst for Tennessee Tech, delivering a dominant all-around performance with 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 28 minutes. His defensive presence, particularly with a pair of second-half steals during the decisive run, disrupted Lindenwood’s rhythm. He was complemented by backcourt mates Muntu and Owens, who each also scored 16 points. Muntu added eight rebounds, while Owens chipped in six rebounds and a game-high six assists.

Lindenwood, which entered the game as a slight pregame favorite, struggled offensively throughout, posting an offensive rating of just 85.3 points per 100 possessions. The Lions shot 36.8% from the field and managed only two assists as a team, a season-low mark that underscored their difficulties in generating consistent offense against Tennessee Tech’s pressure.

Jadis Jones worked tirelessly for Lindenwood, hauling in 14 rebounds to go with eight points, four assists and a block. Mekhi Cooper led the Lions in scoring with 15 points, all from beyond the arc, while Dontrez Williams added 13 points and Anias Futrell scored 11.

The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring seven lead changes. Lindenwood built an early 8-2 advantage behind 3-pointers from Cooper and Milos Nenadic, but Tennessee Tech responded with an 8-0 run of its own. The Lions took a 29-28 lead into the final minute before a Mekhi Cameron layup just before the halftime buzzer gave the Golden Eagles a slim 31-29 edge at the break, setting the stage for their second-half explosion.

Tennessee Tech’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 111.5 points per 100 possessions. The Golden Eagles shot 46.3% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range, and a crisp 87.5% from the free-throw line. They also won the battle in transition, outscoring Lindenwood 9-2 in fastbreak points.

The game, attended by 1,247 fans, saw the total points fall well under the pregame over/under line of 153.5. The victory completed a regular-season split for Tennessee Tech, which suffered an 89-68 defeat at Lindenwood on Jan. 22.

Lindenwood looks to rebound when it hosts Eastern Illinois on Thursday. Tennessee Tech hits the road for its next contest, visiting Tennessee-Martin on Thursday.