UT MARTIN MEN'S HOOPS COMES BACK HOME THURSDAY TO COMPLETE SEASON SERIES AGAINST EASTERN ILLINOIS

Thursday, January 24

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 P.M.

UT Martin

Eastern Illinois

UT MARTIN MEN'S HOOPS COMES BACK HOME THURSDAY TO COMPLETE SEASON SERIES AGAINST EASTERN ILLINOIS

1/22/2019 12:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Watch Listen Live Stats UTM Game Notes EIU Game Notes

MARTIN, Tenn. – A brief two-game homestand for the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team begins with an Ohio Valley Conference tilt against the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Tipoff on Thursday, Jan. 24 is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (following the completion of the women's basketball game).

The Skyhawks are 15-8 all-time against Eastern Illinois in games played at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. UT Martin has won four of the last five home contests against the Panthers, including a pair of overtime decisions.

The Skyhawks (5-12, 0-6 OVC) will look to split the season series against Eastern Illinois, as the Panthers escaped with a 92-87 overtime win in the OVC opener just three weeks ago. In that game, UT Martin led by six points with a minute remaining in regulation before Eastern Illinois rallied and outscored the Skyhawks by a 10-5 margin in overtime. Despite the loss, the Skyhawks knocked down 15 three-pointers (just one shy of the school's single-game record).

Through six OVC games, UT Martin boasts six different leading scorers. Preston Parks (21 points at Eastern Illinois), Fatodd Lewis (19 points at Southeast Missouri), Quintin Dove (27 points against Murray State), Kevin Little (15 points against Austin Peay), Jailen Gill (19 points at Eastern Kentucky) and Derek Hawthorne, Jr. (14 points at Morehead State) have each contributed to the Skyhawks' balanced scoring attack.

Eastern Illinois (11-8, 4-2 OVC) is off to its best OVC start since 2014-15, as it is coming off a thrilling 85-83 home win over previously unbeaten Austin Peay. The Panthers led by six points at the halftime break but had to overcome a 14-point deficit with 9:48 left to play. Josiah Wallace - who scored a game-high 27 points against UT Martin earlier this season - dialed up another 27 points against Austin Peay. Shareef Smith added 12 points and nine assists, including the game-winning 15-foot jumper with four seconds left.

Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ or listen locally on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links - as well as a link for live stats - can be found at the top of the webpage.