UT Martin
Evansville
SKYHAWK MEN'S HOOPS HEADS TO FAMILIAR VENUE TO ROUND OUT NONCONFERENCE ROAD SLATE AT EVANSVILLE
12/17/2023 12:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The final nonconference road challenge for the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball squad takes place tomorrow against the Evansville Purple Aces out of the Missouri Valley Conference. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
These two teams meet for the first time since an instant classic on Dec. 2, 2020 - a 93-87 Skyhawk triumph in double overtime at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. UT Martin was also scheduled to take on the Purple Aces on Dec. 18, 2021 in the Ford Center but the game was canceled because of health and safety protocols.
Although the Skyhawks have not faced Evansville in the Ford Center since the 2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament semifinals, UT Martin is no strangers to the facility - the host of the Ohio Valley Conference Championship tournament for the past six years. During last season's run to the league semifinals, Jordan Sears (24.0 points per game on 50 percent shooting), KK Curry (13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game), Koby Jeffries (11.5 points per game) and Desmond Williams (40 percent from three-point range) each excelled in that building for the Skyhawks.
UT Martin (6-5) is coming off an 81-67 setback at NC State on Tuesday. In that game, Sears and Jacob Crews each pumped in 20 points while Curry (14 points) and David Kamwanga (career-highs of eight points and 10 rebounds) bolstered the Skyhawk frontcourt.
A year after winning five games, Evansville has stormed out to an 8-2 start under second-year head coach David Ragland. The Purple Aces went on the road and dispatched Bellarmine by a 70-61 margin on Saturday, limiting the opposition to 34.3 percent (24-of-70) shooting - including a 16.1 percent clip (5-for-31) from three-point range. Yacine Toumi (14 points), Ben Humrichous (12), Chuck Bailey III (12) and Kenny Strawbridge (10) each scored in double figures for Evansville.
Links for the ESPN+ stream, the radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM and live stats can be found above.
