Deniusas Named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman Of The Week For Ninth Time
1/26/2026 12:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Matas Deniusas, a 6-9, 220-pound forward on the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team, has once again been voted as Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week.
Today's proclamation marks the ninth time that Deniusas has received this award, which is tied with Little Rock's Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (2023-24), Morehead State's Johni Broome (2020-21), Eastern Kentucky's Nick Mayo (2015-16), Murray State's Cameron Payne (2013-14) and Austin Peay's Chris Horton (2012-13) for the fourth-most in OVC history.
Because of Winter Storm Fern, the Skyhawks were limited to just one game last week as Deniusas scored a team-best 11 points to go along with six rebounds and a block in only 23 minutes at Southeast Missouri last Tuesday. It marked the ninth time this season that the Vilnius, Lithuania native had topped UT Martin in scoring.
Deniusas currently ranks in the top-15 in the OVC in blocked shots (1.05 per outing, eighth), free throw percentage (.763, 11th), rebounding (5.5 per contest, 12th) and scoring (13.25 points per game, 13th). In league play, he ranks fifth in blocked shots (1.56 per outing) and eighth in rebounding (6.89 per contest).
The first-place Skyhawks resume their OVC slate on the road this week, starting with a Thursday, Jan. 29 contest at Eastern Illinois. Tipoff time from Charleston, Ill. is set for 7:30 p.m.
Today's proclamation marks the ninth time that Deniusas has received this award, which is tied with Little Rock's Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (2023-24), Morehead State's Johni Broome (2020-21), Eastern Kentucky's Nick Mayo (2015-16), Murray State's Cameron Payne (2013-14) and Austin Peay's Chris Horton (2012-13) for the fourth-most in OVC history.
Because of Winter Storm Fern, the Skyhawks were limited to just one game last week as Deniusas scored a team-best 11 points to go along with six rebounds and a block in only 23 minutes at Southeast Missouri last Tuesday. It marked the ninth time this season that the Vilnius, Lithuania native had topped UT Martin in scoring.
Deniusas currently ranks in the top-15 in the OVC in blocked shots (1.05 per outing, eighth), free throw percentage (.763, 11th), rebounding (5.5 per contest, 12th) and scoring (13.25 points per game, 13th). In league play, he ranks fifth in blocked shots (1.56 per outing) and eighth in rebounding (6.89 per contest).
The first-place Skyhawks resume their OVC slate on the road this week, starting with a Thursday, Jan. 29 contest at Eastern Illinois. Tipoff time from Charleston, Ill. is set for 7:30 p.m.
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