UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS BATTLES UNTIL FINAL BUZZER BEFORE FALLING 85-75 AT MURRAY STATE

Thursday, February 21

Murray, Ky.

7 P.M.

UT Martin

10-16 (5-10OVC)

Murray State

22-4 (13-2OVC)

UT Martin

Murray State

UT MARTIN MEN’S HOOPS BATTLES UNTIL FINAL BUZZER BEFORE FALLING 85-75 AT MURRAY STATE

2/21/2019 11:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team left it all on the court this evening but the Skyhawks' four-game winning streak was snapped by Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Murray State, 85-75.

UT Martin led for a majority of the first half before the host Racers shot 58.1 percent (18-of-31) over the final 20 minutes. The Skyhawks were within one possession (60-57) of Murray State as late as 8:34 left to play but the comeback attempt eventually ran out of steam.

Quintin Dove posted his second double-double of the season with 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for UT Martin, who is now 10-16 with a 5-10 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. Craig Randall II also pumped in 19 points while Preston Parks and Delfincko Bogan each accumulated 10 points apiece for a Skyhawk squad that outrebounded the Racers by a 36-32 margin.

Murray State (22-4, 13-2 OVC) was led by Ja Morant's 30 points and nine assists. Darnell Cowart grabbed a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Shaq Buchanan provided 11 points for the Racers, who were limited to a 22.7 percent (5-of-22) performance from beyond the three-point arc.

"We came out and executed our gameplan for the whole game," UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart said. "I'm not one for moral victories but I'm pleased with how we came up here in a hostile environment and played hard. For most of the game, we were in it and probably could have had a chance to win this if we executed a little better on both ends."

A fast break layup by Randall just a little over five minutes into the game resulted in the Skyhawks' first lead of the game at 6-5. Bogan added a triple just under a minute later to cap off a 7-0 UT Martin run. A Parks layup at the 10:54 mark gave the Skyhawks an 18-13 advantage but Murray State would close out the half on a 13-5 run to claim a 36-32 lead at the intermission. Bogan and Dove each had eight points to guide UT Martin while Morant's 15 points led the Racers.

Murray State scored the first four points of the second half to extend its lead out to eight point. Dove then dialed up seven consecutive points during one stretch to trim the Skyhawk deficit to three points with 11:20 to go. Minfeke Sanoe converted a tough layup in traffic moments later to make the score 54-53 but the Racers soon went on a 14-3 surge over a 3:33 span and the Skyhawks would not get within single-digits the rest of the way.

UT Martin plays its final road game of the season this Saturday, Feb. 23 when it travels to in-state OVC rival Austin Peay. Tipoff from the Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tenn. is scheduled for 4 p.m.