UT Martin
Austin Peay
SKYHAWK MEN'S HOOPS START OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE SLATE WITH THURSDAY JAUNT TO IN-STATE RIVAL AUSTIN PEAY
12/29/2021 9:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Following a dozen challenging nonconference tests, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team opens Ohio Valley Conference play on the road against the Austin Peay Governors. Tipoff on Thursday, Dec. 30 is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Winfield Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tenn.
Both teams are entering league competition coming off lengthy layoffs. The Skyhawks are back in action for the first time in 11 days as their final nonconference tilt at No. 13 Ohio State (scheduled for Dec. 21) was cancelled. Conversely, this will be the first outing for Austin Peay since Dec. 18 as its last nonconference contest (Dec. 22 home game against Western Kentucky) was postponed until next season.
Although this is UT Martin's 30th year as an OVC member, this is only the third time (first since 2003) that it has faced the Governors in its league opener. The series between the Skyhawks and Austin Peay has been extremely tight since the 2014-15 campaign. The Governors hold a slight 8-7 edge over that span with three of UT Martin's victories occurring inside the Dunn Center.
The Skyhawks (4-8) have been paced by two-time OVC Newcomer of the Week KJ Simon, who is the only player to rank in the league's top-five in scoring (17.5 points per outing, second), steals (2.1 per contest, second) and blocks (1.2 per game, fourth). KK Curry (OVC Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 15) and Chris Nix (second in the OVC with a .600 field goal percentage) have guided the UT Martin frontcourt while Darius Simmons tops the OVC with an .857 free throw percentage.
Austin Peay (4-6) boasts a tremendously balanced scoring attack as Oregon State transfer (and Clarksville native) Tariq Silver paces four Governors who average between 11.8 and 12.9 points per contest. Caleb Stone-Carrawell (game-high 16 points at Vanderbilt on Dec. 18), Elijah Hutchins-Everett (two-time OVC Freshman of the Week) and Cameron Copeland (OVC Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 13) are also heavy contributors to Austin Peay's potent offensive attack.
Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+ and listen locally to the radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links - as well as a link to follow along through live stats - are located above.
