SKYHAWK MEN'S BASKETBALL FACES FAMILIAR OPPONENT IN OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE LEADER BELMONT

Saturday, January 9

Nashville, Tenn.

4 p.m.

UT Martin

Belmont

SKYHAWK MEN'S BASKETBALL FACES FAMILIAR OPPONENT IN OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE LEADER BELMONT

1/8/2021 10:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – For the second time in eight days, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team finds itself squaring off against the Belmont Bruins as the two sides collide in Nashville. Tipoff from the Curb Event Center is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Last Saturday at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center, these two in-state squads rekindled their 67-year rivalry as Belmont came away with a 90-69 win. Cameron Holden (16 points), Eden Holt (13), Jaron Williams (11) and Ajani Kennedy (10) each scored in double figures for the Skyhawks.

UT Martin (3-5, 1-3 OVC) is coming off a 74-62 setback at Tennessee State on Thursday. Holden maintained his OVC scoring lead in league play after 20 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds.

Now in the third week of OVC play, the Skyhawks currently rank first in the league with a .734 free throw percentage (130-of-177). It's a continuing trend for UT Martin, as the Skyhawks topped the OVC with a .753 free throw percentage in 2019-20 after knocking down a league-best .754 of their attempts in 2018-19.

UT Martin boasts two of the top decision makers in the OVC as Kenton Eskridge leads the league with a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the flipside, Holt ranks first in the OVC with a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio against league competition.

Belmont (11-1, 5-0 OVC) pushed its winning streak to eight games on Thursday, overcoming a 35-33 halftime deficit to defeat Southeast Missouri by a 77-66 margin. Preseason All-OVC center Nick Muszynski poured in a season-high 26 points to carry the Bruins to the finish line.

Muszynski is averaging 15.0 points (on 70.6 percent shooting) and 7.8 rebounds over four career games against the Skyhawks. UT Martin will also look to slow down reigning OVC Player of the Week Ben Sheppard as the sophomore guard had 21 points, seven rebounds and six steals against the Skyhawks on Jan. 2.

This game can be viewed live on ESPN+ and Chris Brinkley will call all the action locally on WCMT Radio 1410 AM/100.5 FM. For those options, as well as a link to follow along with live stats, see the links located above.