GAME-WINNING SHOT NOT IN THE CARDS AS UTM MEN’S HOOPS OUTLASTED BY AUSTIN PEAY, 72-70

Saturday, January 12

Martin, Tenn.

3:30 P.M.

UT Martin

5-10 (0-4OVC)

Austin Peay

12-5 (4-0OVC)

Austin Peay

UT Martin

GAME-WINNING SHOT NOT IN THE CARDS AS UTM MEN’S HOOPS OUTLASTED BY AUSTIN PEAY, 72-70

1/12/2019 7:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery Postgame Press Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. – Kevin Little tossed in a team-best 15 points thanks to five 3-pointers off the bench for the University of Tennessee at Martin but Austin Peay escaped with a 72-70 win in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball action at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

The Skyhawks forced the visiting Governors into 21 turnovers today and had a chance to tie or win the game with 7.7 seconds to go. Trailing by two and inbounding the ball underneath the Austin Peay basket, Little drove coast-to-coast and lofted a contested layup in traffic just before the buzzer but the shot attempt was not true.

In addition to his team-best 15 points, Little also tied a game-high with five assists in 26 minutes played for UT Martin (5-10, 0-4 OVC). Preston Parks was responsible for 14 points and three steals while Quintin Dove and Fatodd Lewis (team-best eight rebounds) each scored 10 points apiece. The Skyhawks shot 45 percent (9-of-20) from the beyond the three-point stripe while connecting on 90 percent (9-for-10) of their free throw tries.

Austin Peay (12-5, 4-0 OVC) was led by Terry Taylor's 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Jabari McGhee tallied a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Jarrett Givens (14 points) and Chris Porter-Bunton (13 points) also reached double-figures in the scoring column for the Governors, who shot 58 percent (29-of-50) from the floor.

"It was another close game," UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart said. "We had some crucial mistakes down the stretch and the ball just didn't bounce our way tonight. We don't want any moral victories here, you have to get it done at this level. We have to keep working and progressing until we get over the finish line."

Little buried a pair of treys in a three-minute span early as both sides tried to establish momentum. Austin Peay went on a 7-0 run before a 12-2 Skyhawk surge resulted in a 28-26 lead after yet another triple by Little. A Parks jumper in the paint with 2:26 remaining in the first half kept UT Martin on top but the Governors were able to take a 41-38 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Parks' 10 points led the Skyhawks while Given accounted for all of his 14 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Back-to-back buckets by Derek Hawthorne, Jr. and Jailen Gill pulled UT Martin within a single point at 43-42 in the early stages of the second half. Austin Peay would not lead by any more than five points throughout the second half but the Skyhawks could not get over the hump. Dove sank a layup to make the score 72-70 with 10 seconds to go and UT Martin fouled on the ensuing possession. After the Governors missed both free throw attempts, the Skyhawks had a chance for their first conference win of the season but Austin Peay was able to hang on for the win.

UT Martin heads back on the road next week, taking on OVC rivals Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Jan. 17 and Morehead State on Saturday, Jan. 19.