Skyhawks Set For Seventh All-Time OVC Championship Semifinals Berth On Friday

Friday, March 6

Evansville, Ind.

7 p.m.

UT Martin

Tennessee State

Skyhawks Set For Seventh All-Time OVC Championship Semifinals Berth On Friday

3/6/2026 2:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Watch Listen Live Stats Game Notes Championship Central Digital Program

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Fresh off tying the school record with its 22nd victory of the season, the No. 4 seed University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team squares off against top-seeded Tennessee State in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship semifinals at the Ford Center. Tipoff on Friday, March 6 is set for 7 p.m. live on ESPNU.

The Skyhawks (22-10) are making their third OVC Championship Final Four appearance in the last four years and seventh overall. UT Martin has only matched up against the Tigers once in the postseason in program history, defeating its in-state foe by a 68-64 margin in the 2011 first round held in Nashville, Tenn.

Last night against No. 8 seed Eastern Illinois in the OVC Championship quarterfinals, the Skyhawks were guided by 17 points apiece from OVC Freshman of the Year Matas Deniusas and Filip Radaković. UT Martin also received the eighth double-double of the season from All-OVC first teamer Andrija Bukumirović (11 points, 10 rebounds) as the Skyhawks took the lead for good with 6:04 remaining.

Tennessee State has won four straight games in the all-time series, including a 78-71 decision in Nashville (Dec. 18) and a 67-42 victory in Martin just six days ago. Deniusas recorded team-highs of 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game against the Tigers in 2025-26 while UT Martin also received significant contributions out of Bukumirović (11.5 points per game) and Radaković (10.0 points per game).

Tennessee State (21-9) shared the OVC regular season title with Morehead State, clinching its first share of the league championship since the 1994-95 campaign. The Tigers pace the OVC in scoring offense (80.53 points per game), free throw percentage (.762), steals (9.53 per contest) and turnover margin (+2.67).

The All-OVC first team backcourt duo of OVC Player of the Year Aaron Nkrumah (21.5 points per game) and Travis Harper II (16.0 points per game) both averaged in double figures scoring against the Skyhawks this season.

Links for the ESPNU live video stream, WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM radio broadcast, live stats, UT Martin game notes, OVC Championship Central webpage and OVC Championship digital program can all be found above.