POST DUO NETS NEW CAREER-HIGHS IN SCORING BUT SKYHAWK MEN’S HOOPS FALLS 98-77 TO MURRAY STATE

Thursday, January 10

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 P.M.

UT Martin

5-9 (0-3OVC)

Murray State

12-2 (3-0OVC)

Murray State

UT Martin

POST DUO NETS NEW CAREER-HIGHS IN SCORING BUT SKYHAWK MEN’S HOOPS FALLS 98-77 TO MURRAY STATE

1/10/2019 11:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery Postgame Press Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team hung with defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State in the first half this evening but the visiting Racers were too much in a 98-77 setback at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

The Skyhawks (5-9, 0-3 OVC) led for over seven minutes of clock time in the first half, including a six-point lead early in the contest. However, Murray State found its shooting stroke late in the first half and did not trail over the final 22-plus minutes of the game.

Quintin Dove went off for career-highs of 27 points and nine rebounds tonight, knocking down 10 of his 15 field goal attempts while going 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Senior center Jailen Gill also exploded for a career-best 21 points while adding four rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist for UT Martin, who outrebounded the Skyhawks by a 42-32 margin.

Murray State (12-2, 3-0 OVC) placed three scorers in double figures, all of whom scored at least 20 points. Freshman Tevin Brown led the way with 31 points thanks to nine 3-pointers while Ja Morant added 26 points and 18 assists. Shaq Buchanan rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Racers with 21 points and a game-high four steals as Murray State made 15 out of 31 three-point attempts for 48.4 percent.

"I'm disappointed with the outcome but hats off to Murray State," UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart said. "We played a good half but we couldn't put two halves together. Quintin gave it his all and he is getting better each game and each day in practice. He's humble and is a team guy – I'm proud of that kid."

Dove scored five of the Skyhawks' first seven points while a layup by Gill resulted in a 11-5 Skyhawk lead at the 15:32 mark of the first half. The Racers then unleashed a 13-2 run and eventually led by six points before back-to-back treys by Kevin Little and Parrish Hewitt evened the score at 25-all. Gill connected on a jumper in the paint to give UT Martin a 36-33 lead before Murray State wrapped up the opening half on a 16-6 run for a 49-42 halftime advantage. Dove's 18 points led all scorers at the break while Brown posted 17 points in the first half.

Morant canned a three-pointer on the opening possession of the second half but the Skyhawks quickly got back within single-digits after a Delfincko Bogan fast break layup made the score 56-48 with 17:16 left to play. Moments later, the Racers went on a 9-2 run and UT Martin would not get any closer than 14 points the rest of the way. Gill tossed in 13 of the Skyhawks' final 25 points in a 10-minute span before Murray State closed out the win.

UT Martin will look to bounce back strong on Saturday, Jan. 12 when it hosts Austin Peay at the Elam Center. The game – which is the second contest of a doubleheader with the women's team – will start at approximately 3:30 p.m.