Jud Dillard scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Tennessee Tech held on late to beat East Tennessee State 65-62 Saturday.
Dennis Ogbe and Jeremia Samarrippas added 11 points apiece for Tennessee Tech (3-0).
Both teams shot an identical 44.4 percent (12 of 27) from the field in a close first period. East Tennessee State (0-2) led at halftime 29-26.
Tennessee Tech trailed early in the second half but took the lead with 17:08 left in the period with Dillard's layup.
The Golden Eagles would push the lead to as much as 13 points but the Buccaneers would fight back.
Sheldon Cooley's jumper with 22 seconds left cut Tennessee Tech's lead to 2, 64-62, but that was the closest the Buccaneers would get it.
Samarrippas converted a free throw to push the lead to 65-62 and Cooley missed a 3-pointer with three seconds left to seal the victory.
