UT Martin
Murray State
SURGING SKYHAWK MEN'S BASKETBALL SQUAD PUTS WIN STREAK ON THE LINE AT OVC CO-LEADER MURRAY STATE
2/19/2019 10:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – A pair of teams boasting two of the longest active winning streaks in the Ohio Valley Conference collide as the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team travels to Murray State for a Thursday night showdown. Tipoff on Feb. 21 is set for 7 p.m. at the CFSB Center.
For the first time since January 2017, the Skyhawks (10-15, 5-9 OVC) have reeled off four consecutive victories. Down to just seven healthy players, UT Martin is currently playing its best basketball of the season as the Skyhawks have combined to shoot 50.7 percent from the floor (including a 42.7 percent clip from three-point range) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line during the winning streak.
Last week, UT Martin defeated Southeast Missouri (81-72) before completing the season sweep over SIUE with a 73-69 road win. Delfincko Bogan averaged 20.0 points per outing while shooting a sizzling 75 percent (12-of-16) from the field, including a 7-for-10 effort from beyond the three-point arc.
Craig Randall II (current OVC Newcomer of the Week) and Preston Parks (season-high 26 points against Southeast Missouri) each tossed in 16.0 points per game last week while Jailen Gill corralled his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds at SIUE.
The Skyhawks will look to avenge a 98-77 setback at the hands of the Racers on Jan. 10. In that game, Quintin Dove piled up a career-high 27 points and nine rebounds while Gill amassed a career-best 21 points for UT Martin.
Owning a five-game win streak is Murray State (21-4, 12-2 OVC), who ranks in the top-10 nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (sixth), assists (18.0 per game, sixth), field goal percentage (.495, seventh) and scoring margin (+15.6, eighth).
Ja Morant - who tallied 26 points and 18 assists against the Skyhawks earlier this season - was named National Player of the Week after averaging 28.5 points, 10.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds in wins over Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky.
ESPN+ will stream the game live while Chris Brinkley (play-by-play) and Eddie Suiter (color) will have the radio call locally on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links, in addition to a link for live stats, can be found at the top of the webpage.
