Skyhawks Look For Seventh Straight Home Win Tomorrow Against Eastern Illinois

Saturday, January 3

Martin, Tenn.

3:30 p.m.

UT Martin

Eastern Illinois

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Skyhawks Look For Seventh Straight Home Win Tomorrow Against Eastern Illinois

1/2/2026 9:38:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Boasting the best overall record in the Ohio Valley Conference, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team goes for its seventh consecutive home victory when it squares off against the Eastern Illinois Panthers tomorrow. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., following the women's game as part of a Saturday OVC doubleheader.

The Skyhawks (10-4, 2-1 OVC) are the only OVC team with double-digit victories so far in 2025-26 and own the best NCAA NET ranking in the league. UT Martin has reeled off six straight home wins to start the season as the trio of Matas Deniusas (14.3 points per outing), Andrija Bukumirović (12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest) and Filip Radaković (11.2 points per game) have excelled in front of the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center crowds.

Radaković showed out on Thursday against Western Illinois, compiling a career-best 18 points to go along with six rebounds and a career-high three steals. Deniusas (12 points, eight rebounds, team-best three assists) and Pedro Santos (10 points on 5-of-7 shooting) also scored in double figures to help the Skyhawks to a 67-60 victory.

UT Martin has won three straight decisions against Eastern Illinois, including a series sweep in 2024-25. The Skyhawks overcame a 37-23 halftime deficit to win by a 68-63 margin at the Elam Center on Jan. 16 before career-highs of 18 points and nine assists out of Afan Trnka helped UT Martin to a 72-68 road triumph on Feb. 15.

The Panthers (4-9, 1-2 OVC) are coming off a tough 68-59 road setback at Southeast Missouri on Thursday. In that game, Eastern Illinois led by as many as 15 points late in the first half before shooting 25 percent (7-of-28) over the final 20 minutes. Andre Washington's 14 points topped the Panthers while Preston Turner and Zion Fruster tacked on 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Last season against the Skyhawks, Fruster averaged 12.5 points per contest while Kooper Jacobi hauled in 11.5 rebounds per outing.

Links to watch the ESPN+ video stream, listen to the radio broadcast on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM, follow along with live stats and browse through UT Martin's game notes can be found above.