UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS BATTLES BUT FALLS VICTIM TO HOT SHOOTING MERCER SQUAD, 77-60

Friday, November 16

Macon, Ga.

6 P.M.

UT Martin

1-2, 0-0

Mercer

2-2, 0-0

UT Martin

Mercer

UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS BATTLES BUT FALLS VICTIM TO HOT SHOOTING MERCER SQUAD, 77-60

11/16/2018 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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MACON, Ga. – Down one of its leading scorers, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team hung tough throughout tonight's contest but Mercer caught fire in the second half in a 77-60 win at Hawkins Arena.

The Skyhawks (1-2) trailed by just five points with a little over 11 minutes to play this evening. However, the host Bears sank six of their 11 trifectas in a 6:39 span down the stretch on their way to the win.

Quintin Dove led UT Martin in scoring tonight, chalking up 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Derek Hawthorne, Jr. collected 13 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists while Jailen Gill nearly came away with a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. The Skyhawks, who were missing Kevin Little because of an injury, outrebounded the Bears by a 38-33 margin but shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the floor.

Mercer (2-2), who advanced to the postseason a year ago, placed four scorers in double figures. Djordje Dimitrijevic (18 points), Ross Cummings (17), Ethan Stair (12) and Jaylen Stowe (11) each helped lead the Bears with big scoring nights.

A Jeremy Joyner layup capped off an early 9-3 run and gave UT Martin a three-point advantage a little over seven minutes into the game. Mercer led by seven points with 2:19 to play in the half before Hawthorne (three-pointer) and Parrish Hewitt (layup) helped the Skyhawks get within five points (40-35) at the break. Hawthorne's nine points guided UT Martin while Dimitrijevic's 10 points led the Bears in the first 20 minutes.

Joyner threw down a dunk at the 17:16 mark of the second half to make the score 43-39 but Cummings responded with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession. That was the first of five treys in the second half for Cummings, who sank three trifectas in less than four minutes to help Mercer put the game away late.

The Skyhawks return home for their next two games, starting with a Wednesday, Nov. 21 matchup against Western Illinois. Tipoff from the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center is set for 3:30 p.m.