Ohio Valley Conference Tabs Deniusas As Freshman Of The Week For 11th Time
2/23/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The second-most Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week awards in league history belongs to the University of Tennessee at Martin's Matas Deniusas, who brought home his 11th such honor today.
Deniusas' 11th accolade ties Eastern Kentucky's Matt Witt (2002-03) as the Skyhawk rookie now only trails Lindenwood's Jadis Jones (12 in 2024-25) for the most in the 48-year history of the award. UT Martin has won the OVC Freshman of the Week honor 13 times out of 16 weeks as part of 15 overall league weekly mentions in 2025-26.
Hailing from Vilnius, Lithuania, Deniusas averaged 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest last week. He collected a game-high 17 points with five rebounds and a steal in Tuesday's narrow overtime loss to Southeast Missouri before posting a solid all-around stat line of six points, a team-best eight rebounds, a game-high four assists, a block and a steal in Thursday's buzzer-beating setback at Little Rock.
The 6-9, 220-pound collegiate rookie ranks in the top-15 in the OVC in five separate categories: blocks (0.90 per game, eighth); free throw percentage (.748, 12th); rebounding (5.45 per contest, 13th); three-point field goals made (1.48 per outing, 13th) and scoring (12.83 points per game, 14th).
The Skyhawks put the finishing touches on the regular season with a pair of home games against in-state league rivals this week. UT Martin hosts Tennessee Tech at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26 before taking on Tennessee State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 on ESPNU.
Deniusas' 11th accolade ties Eastern Kentucky's Matt Witt (2002-03) as the Skyhawk rookie now only trails Lindenwood's Jadis Jones (12 in 2024-25) for the most in the 48-year history of the award. UT Martin has won the OVC Freshman of the Week honor 13 times out of 16 weeks as part of 15 overall league weekly mentions in 2025-26.
Hailing from Vilnius, Lithuania, Deniusas averaged 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest last week. He collected a game-high 17 points with five rebounds and a steal in Tuesday's narrow overtime loss to Southeast Missouri before posting a solid all-around stat line of six points, a team-best eight rebounds, a game-high four assists, a block and a steal in Thursday's buzzer-beating setback at Little Rock.
The 6-9, 220-pound collegiate rookie ranks in the top-15 in the OVC in five separate categories: blocks (0.90 per game, eighth); free throw percentage (.748, 12th); rebounding (5.45 per contest, 13th); three-point field goals made (1.48 per outing, 13th) and scoring (12.83 points per game, 14th).
The Skyhawks put the finishing touches on the regular season with a pair of home games against in-state league rivals this week. UT Martin hosts Tennessee Tech at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26 before taking on Tennessee State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 on ESPNU.
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