UT Martin
Western Illinois
UT MARTIN MEN'S HOOPS CONTINUES BUSY STRETCH WITH SUNDAY HOME MATCHUP AGAINST WESTERN ILLINOIS
12/19/2020 11:24:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the third consecutive season, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team and Western Illinois will meet as the two teams clash at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on Sunday, Dec. 20. Tipoff time is set for 5 p.m. No fans will be allowed entry with the exception of those who are in possession of a team complimentary ticket.
This matchup, just announced on Thursday, is the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools. The Skyhawks first squared off at the Guardians Classic in Springfield, Mo. on Nov. 18, 2003 before a 15-year absence in the series followed. UT Martin has won all three previous matchups although each of the last two results have been decided by seven points or less.
As of Saturday morning, the Skyhawks (3-0) were one of 43 undefeated NCAA Division I teams. UT Martin currently leads the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage (.759) and three-point field goal percentage (.417). To further illustrate their dominance so far in 2020-21, the Skyhawks have not trailed by more than three points at any point and have only trailed for 4:05 out of a possible 130 minutes in their first three games. As a result, UT Martin is 3-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 campaign and Montez Robinson is just the third head coach in school history to win his first three decisions (joining Tom Hancock and Art Tolis).
The Skyhawks are coming off a clutch 69-67 road triumph at Southeast Missouri in their OVC opener on Friday. Cameron Holden took over the OVC's scoring lead after a breakout 24-point, 10-rebound performance while Eden Holt sank the game-winning jumpshot with 0.2 seconds remaining on the clock.
Western Illinois (1-4) last played on Dec. 12, a 92-88 setback at OVC member Eastern Illinois. In that game, junior Justin Brookens came off the bench to dial up 37 points - which ranks as the program's second-highest scoring tally in its Division I history. The Leathernecks boast an evenly distributed offensive attack as they are the only Summit League squad with at least four scorers averaging double figures.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ as Chris Brinkley will be on the call for both ESPN+ and locally on WCMT Radio 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links, as well as a link for live stats, can be found above.
