UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS TURNS AWAY CUMBERLAND IN SEASON OPENER, 91-58

Tuesday, November 6

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 P.M.

UT Martin

1-0

Cumberland

0-1

Cumberland

UT Martin

UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS TURNS AWAY CUMBERLAND IN SEASON OPENER, 91-58

11/6/2018 11:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – A balanced offensive scoring attack highlighted the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball season opener, as the Skyhawks sped past Cumberland for a 91-58 victory at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

UT Martin won its first season opener for the first time since 2010 while improving to 55-0 all-time against non-Division I teams since the Skyhawks joined the Division I ranks in 1992.

Five UT Martin players scored in double-figures, led by Delfincko Bogan's 17 points (on 7-of-9 shooting) off the bench. Kevin Little chipped in 16 points as Derek Hawthorne, Jr. provided 14 points and a game-high five assists. Fatodd Lewis tallied 14 points and a team-best seven rebounds while Parrish Hewitt tacked on 12 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Skyhawks, who also received a game-high 10 rebounds out of Jailen Gill.

As a team, UT Martin shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) while sinking 10 three-pointers. The Skyhawks limited the visiting Phoenix to 34.5 percent shooting (20-of-58), including a 4-for-18 effort from beyond the three-point line. UT Martin also forced Cumberland into 22 turnovers while the Skyhawks bench held a 39-19 scoring advantage.

Cumberland (4-0) was led by a game-high 19 points from Shamari Denson while Ty Sean Powell compiled 11 points and eight rebounds. The Phoenix led by five points in the early stages of the first half before UT Martin seized control and led for 34:34 of clock time.

"Not too often do you get to start the season at home," Skyhawk head coach Anthony Stewart said. "I was really pleased with tonight – I thought it was a team effort. By design, we wanted a test and Cumberland gave us that. It was good to see our hard work put into action."

UT Martin used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to take a lead and never look back. A Jeremy Joyner layup at the 4:23 mark gave the Skyhawks their first double-digit lead of the contest (28-17) as they cruised to a 42-27 advantage at the break. Bogan's 10 points led UT Martin in the first 20 minutes.

The Skyhawks began the second half on a 13-3 run and Cumberland would not get any closer than 16 points the rest of the way. UT Martin's biggest lead of the night (33 points) came after Little shifted through the paint for a driving layup with 35 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Skyhawks return to action on Saturday, Nov. 10 when they travel to Western Kentucky. Tipoff time from EA Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky. is set for 6 p.m.