Skyhawks Fall In Overtime Defensive Conflict Against Southeast Missouri

Tuesday, February 17

Martin, Tenn.

7:30 p.m.

UT Martin

20-8,12-5OVC

Southeast Missouri

17-11,12-5OVC

OT 1

Southeast Mo. St.

UT Martin

Photo by: Stasi Solbrig/UTM Athletics

Skyhawks Fall In Overtime Defensive Conflict Against Southeast Missouri

2/17/2026 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The first overtime decision of the University of Tennessee at Martin's 2025-26 men's basketball season did not go the Skyhawks way as Southeast Missouri snuck away with a 56-53 win at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.

UT Martin trailed by 10 points at the halftime intermission but continued to chip away and eventually held a two-point lead with 3:42 to go in regulation. After the game was sent into overtime, the Skyhawks could not get into a rhythm, shooting 16.7 percent (1-of-6) with four turnovers in the extra period.

The freshman tandem of Matas Deniusas (17 points) and Pedro Santos (16 points) led UT Martin (20-8, 12-5 Ohio Valley Conference) in scoring tonight while fellow rookie Damien King added nine points and a team-best three steals in 23 minutes. The Skyhawks forced the Redhawks into 19 turnovers and 29.8 percent (17-of-57) shooting from the floor – including a 22.7 percent clip (5-for-22) from three-point range.

Southeast Missouri (17-11, 12-5 OVC) additionally placed a pair of scorers in double figures as BJ Ward and Brendan Terry posted 15 and 14 points, respectively.

"We didn't come out ready to play," UT Martin head coach Jeremy Shulman said. "We missed our starting point guard Filip Petkovski pretty badly tonight – we couldn't execute at times. I give credit to Southeast Missouri but we let another one get away. I thought we guarded extremely well but it was definitely a frustrating night."

Deniusas scored five of the Skyhawks' first seven points but the Redhawks took an 18-9 advantage into the under-12-minute media timeout. After Southeast Missouri took a 23-13 lead at the 7:13 mark of the opening half, both defenses locked down for one field goal allowed from that point until the break as the Redhawks led 26-16. Deniusas (seven points) and Terry (eight) led their respective teams in scoring at halftime.

Southeast Missouri scored the first two points of the second half but UT Martin came right back with an 11-2 run, trimming its deficit down to 30-27 after a Deniusas fast break triple from the right corner.

The Redhawks scored eight of the next 11 points to go back on top by a 38-30 margin but the Skyhawks soon gained momentum. A Santos steal and driving layup with 6:46 to go in the second half knotted the score at 38-all before another bucket by Santos nudged UT Martin ahead (44-42) with 3:42 remaining in regulation.

Southeast Missouri eventually took a 47-44 lead but a King free throw, Santos layup and sturdy defensive stand – all in the final 39 seconds of the second half – paved the way for overtime at 47-all.

Deniusas knocked down a pair of free throws on the opening possession of overtime but that would be the only lead the Skyhawks held in the extra period. UT Martin only trailed by a single point with 1:36 remaining but the Redhawks made five of their final six free throws down the stretch to claim a share of first place in the OVC standings.

The Skyhawks have a quick turnaround as they head to Little Rock on Thursday, Feb. 19. Tipoff time from the Jack Stephens Center is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.