Skyhawks Round Out Nonconference Schedule Tomorrow With Home Outing Against Champion Christian

MARTIN, Tenn. – The final nonconference test for the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball program comes tomorrow in the form of Champion Christian as the Skyhawks and Tigers battle it out for the third consecutive season at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. as the backend of a doubleheader with the women's squad on ESPN+.

UT Martin (3-7) looks to continue an impressive streak as the Skyhawks are a perfect 71-0 against non-NCAA Division I teams since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. That includes a 3-0 mark against Champion Christian, a National Christian College Athletic Association affiliated program out of Hot Springs, Ark.

The Skyhawks are coming off a valiant effort on Wednesday, battling all the way back from a 26-point second-half deficit before falling 103-93 in overtime at Alabama State. After trailing 79-56 with 6:59 to go in regulation, UT Martin outscored the host Hornets by a 32-9 margin down the stretch to force overtime.

Tarence Guinyard scored 29 of his career-best 31 points after the halftime break while Matija Žužić (19 points), Afan Trnka (career-best 17 points), Vladimer Salaridze (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Andrija Bukumirović (career-best 11 rebounds) each had standout performances for the Skyhawks on Wednesday.

Guinyard became only the 25th player in UT Martin's NCAA Division I Era to score at least 30 points in a game and was the first to accomplish that feat while coming off the bench since Quintin Dove tossed in 35 points at Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 30, 2020.

Champion Christian enters this contest with a 5-2 record in NCCAA play but has also played seven exhibitions against NCAA Division I or Division II squads. KJ Younge, who scored 20 points and shot 6-of-11 from three-point range against UT Martin last season, is averaging a team-best 12.3 points over four exhibitions against NCAA Division I teams, including a 25-point effort at UTRGV on Nov. 10.

Links for the ESPN+ live stream, radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM and live stats can be found above.

Skyhawks Round Out Nonconference Schedule Tomorrow With Home Outing Against Champion Christian

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Players Mentioned

Andrija Bukumirović

Tarence Guinyard

Vladimer Salaridze

Afan Trnka

Matija Žužić