SKYHAWK MEN’S HOOPS FALLS 112-67 TO OVC CO-LEADER BELMONT

Thursday, February 28

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 P.M.

UT Martin

10-18 (5-12OVC)

112

Belmont

24-4 (15-2OVC)

Belmont

112

UT Martin

SKYHAWK MEN’S HOOPS FALLS 112-67 TO OVC CO-LEADER BELMONT

2/28/2019 11:22:00 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 fell behind early and couldn't recover in a 112-67 setback to Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Belmont.

The Bruins never trailed in the game, scoring 28 of the first 32 points of the contest. The Skyhawks could not shake off the early deficit as Belmont hit 19 of its 39 three-point attempts (48.7 percent).

Craig Randall II led UT Martin (10-18, 5-12 OVC) in scoring for the fourth time since making his team debut nine games ago, tossing in 17 points. Minfeke Sanoe set a new career-high with 12 points tonight while also chipping in a team-best five rebounds. Derek Hawthorne, Jr. also scored in double-digits (10 points) as the Skyhawks only committed nine turnovers during the contest.

Belmont (24-4, 15-2 OVC) was paced by Dylan Windler's 32 points and 12 rebounds. Nick Muszynski collected 19 points while Michael Benkert and Kevin McClain added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for a Bruins squad that had 31 assists on 42 made field goals.

"I was really disappointed in how we started the game," UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart said. "Our defensive assignments and effort just wasn't there and that's not how indicative of how we practiced all week for Belmont. Anytime you let a good team like that get out to a big lead, it's hard to come back."

Following the Bruins' surge to start the game, Kevin Little scored five straight points and Jailen Gill tacked on a layup to cap off a 7-2 Skyhawk run. However, Belmont scored 10 unanswered points on its way to a 59-23 halftime advantage. Windler (21 points) and Gill (seven points) led their respective teams in scoring at the break.

The Bruins scored the first eight points of the second half before Randall would reel off eight consecutive points in a span of 2:01. Sanoe then took over the scoring role with eight straight points for UT Martin over a one-minute stretch but the Skyhawks could not prevent Belmont on the offensive end as the second half progressed.

UT Martin concludes the regular season on Saturday, March 2 when it hosts Tennessee State on Senior Day. Tipoff for the backend of the doubleheader at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center is set for 3:30 p.m., following Senior Day festivities at approximately 3:10 p.m.