COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jeremiah Samarrippas scored 20 points Saturday night and Tennessee Tech survived a Utah Valley State surge by hitting four free throws down the stretch to win 74-71.
Dwan Caldwell scored 18 points for Tennessee Tech (5-4) and Jordan Johnson added 11.
Hayes Garrity led Utah Valley State (2-4) with 18 points, Mitch Bruneel scored 16, Keawe Enos, 13 and Zach Nelson, 11.
Tennessee Tech led by as much as 11 early but the Wolverines rallied to cut the margin to 36-32 at halftime.
They hit eight quick points to take a 39-38 second-half lead and it became a dogfight, with the lead changing hands nine times until Samarrippas hit two free throws with 46 seconds to play to put Tennessee Tech up 72-71 and Shirmane Thomas drained two more to make it a 3-point game.
The Wolverines had a chance, but Nelson’s 3-point try missed and time expired.
