Thursday, January 1
Martin, Tenn.
3:30 p.m.
UT Martin
vs
Western Illinois
Skyhawks Ring In The New Year With Home Matinee Against OVC Rival Western Illinois
12/31/2025 8:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – After a near-two week layoff for the holidays, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team hosts its first Ohio Valley Conference opponent of the season when the Western Illinois Leathernecks visit the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center tomorrow. Tipoff time is set for 3:30 p.m. as the backend of a doubleheader with the women's basketball squad.
This marks just the third time in school history that the Skyhawks (9-4, 1-1 OVC) have played at home on New Year's Day, also hosting Crowley's Ridge in 2015 and future OVC opponent SIUE in 1971.
UT Martin is 6-3 all-time against Western Illinois, including three straight victories over the Leathernecks. In last season's series sweep, the Skyhawks led for a combined 71:48 of clock time and forced Western Illinois into 34 total turnovers.
UT Martin accounted for one of its best shooting halves in its NCAA Division I history (since 1992) during its last outing - an 86-62 triumph at Tennessee Tech back on Dec. 20. The Skyhawks knocked down 72 percent (18-for-25) of their field goal tries over the final 20 minutes, including a blistering 9-of-12 effort from three-point range. The 72 percent effort was the best for the program since shooting 77.8 percent (21-for-27) in the second half against Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 17, 2016 and was the most efficient half against an OVC squad since connecting on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) of its attempts in the first half against Southeast Missouri on Feb. 28, 2004 - a span of 665 games.
Andrija Bukumirović came away with a career-best 28 points while Matas Deniusas scored 16 points to guide UT Martin in the victory at Tennessee Tech.
The Leathernecks (4-9, 0-2 OVC) are in action for the first time since a heartbreaking 66-61 home setback to defending OVC Tournament champion SIUE on Dec. 22. In that game, Western Illinois led by 14 points with 8:44 to go before the Cougars stormed back to win. Lucas Lorenzen's 19 points led the way for the Leathernecks while Isaiah Griffin and Antwaun Massey each scored 11 points apiece.
Links for the ESPN+ video stream, radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM, live stats and Skyhawk game notes are all located above.
This marks just the third time in school history that the Skyhawks (9-4, 1-1 OVC) have played at home on New Year's Day, also hosting Crowley's Ridge in 2015 and future OVC opponent SIUE in 1971.
UT Martin is 6-3 all-time against Western Illinois, including three straight victories over the Leathernecks. In last season's series sweep, the Skyhawks led for a combined 71:48 of clock time and forced Western Illinois into 34 total turnovers.
UT Martin accounted for one of its best shooting halves in its NCAA Division I history (since 1992) during its last outing - an 86-62 triumph at Tennessee Tech back on Dec. 20. The Skyhawks knocked down 72 percent (18-for-25) of their field goal tries over the final 20 minutes, including a blistering 9-of-12 effort from three-point range. The 72 percent effort was the best for the program since shooting 77.8 percent (21-for-27) in the second half against Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 17, 2016 and was the most efficient half against an OVC squad since connecting on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) of its attempts in the first half against Southeast Missouri on Feb. 28, 2004 - a span of 665 games.
Andrija Bukumirović came away with a career-best 28 points while Matas Deniusas scored 16 points to guide UT Martin in the victory at Tennessee Tech.
The Leathernecks (4-9, 0-2 OVC) are in action for the first time since a heartbreaking 66-61 home setback to defending OVC Tournament champion SIUE on Dec. 22. In that game, Western Illinois led by 14 points with 8:44 to go before the Cougars stormed back to win. Lucas Lorenzen's 19 points led the way for the Leathernecks while Isaiah Griffin and Antwaun Massey each scored 11 points apiece.
Links for the ESPN+ video stream, radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM, live stats and Skyhawk game notes are all located above.
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
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