BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Johnson City, Tenn. – You’re surprised when Travis Strong misses. And you nod your head and smile assuredly every time Strong drains a 3-pointer and the ball swishes through the net like there was no other possible option.
Strong is a shooter’s shooter.
His quick release, soft touch and high, arcing shot are textbook.
He can stop, plant and pull up on a dime.
And he regularly knocks down NBA-range 3s from both sides of the court like it’s a simple part of a complex collegiate game.
Strong recorded 20 points and set a career-high with six made 3-pointers as he helped guide East Tennessee State to an 88-80 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon.
The outing marked the final time Strong, a senior guard, will play a game inside Memorial Center while wearing a Buccaneer uniform.
“It was my birthday, too,” Strong said smiling. “It was my birthday and my last senior game here on the same day. And we got a win.”
ETSU will miss Travis Strong.
Strong, who played his high school ball at Memphis’ White Station High School, has often been ETSU’s only consistent outside scoring threat this season.
He’s also the only remaining Buc who played on ETSU’s 2003-04 squad that finished 27-6 (15-1 Southern Conference) and nearly knocked off Cincinnati in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
And Strong, who rebounded from a major knee injury that kept him off the court all last season, is currently averaging 10.3 points per contest while shooting 40.3 percent (52 of 154) from beyond the arc.
“If Travis is open, I’m going to get it to him,” said ETSU senior forward Kenyona Swader. “And if he ain’t open, I’m still going to give it to him. He’s one of the best.”
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