NW Tennessee News

For the first time in over three decades, the University of Tennessee at Martin and Southern Indiana will clash on the hardwood as the Skyhawk men's basketball team continues their three-game Ohio Valley Conference road swing at Screaming Eagles Arena. Tipoff on Saturday, Jan. 14 is set for 7:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the women's game as part of a doubleheader.
          
UT Martin last matched up against Southern Indiana on Feb. 25, 1992 - the Skyhawks' final year of transitioning into a NCAA Division I member. This contest will be the first time that UT Martin has made a trip to Evansville to take on the Screaming Eagles since Nov. 27, 1989.
          
The Skyhawks (11-7, 3-2 OVC) are coming off a convincing 77-66 road victory against Tennessee State on Thursday. Returning after briefly missing playing time with an injury, Jordan Sears soared to the tune of a career-best 21 points while Desmond Williams pitched in a season-high 16 points. KK Curry and Parker Stewart added 13 and 11 points, respectively, as UT Martin held the Tigers to 33.9 percent shooting - including a 5-of-24 effort (20.8 percent) from three-point land.
          
The Skyhawks sit atop the OVC in scoring offense (82.6 points per game), scoring margin (+8.4), field goal percentage (.459), rebounding (40.2 per contest), assists (14.9 per outing) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).
          
Southern Indiana (9-9, 2-3 OVC) ranks first in the OVC in three-point field goal percentage (.390), three-point field goals made (9.9 per game), rebounding margin (+5.0) and offensive rebounding (12.2 per contest). Individually, Jacob Polakovich leads the league in rebounding (11.5 per game, including an astounding 15.2 average in OVC play) while Trevor Lakes has swished a league-high 3.4 trifectas per contest.
              
The Screaming Eagles dispatched Little Rock by a 74-67 margin on Thursday in the first nationally televised contest in program history. Lakes (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Polakovich (16 points, 14 rebounds, game-high five assists) each had double-doubles while Isaiah Swope poured in 19 points.

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