Bukumirovic Voted To All-OVC First Team While Deniusas Nabs Three Postseason Awards, Including OVC Freshman Of The Year

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference released its postseason accolades for men's basketball today and the University of Tennessee at Martin duo of Andrija Bukumirović and Matas Deniusas racked up the hardware. Bukumirović was named to the eight-man All-OVC first team while Deniusas was crowned as OVC Freshman of the Year, All-OVC second team and OVC All-Newcomer.

Bukumirović becomes the 13th player in school history to be crowned All-OVC first team and is the only wing/frontcourt honoree on the 2026 list. Deniusas is the first Skyhawk to win all three of these awards in the same season and is only the fourth UT Martin representative to nab OVC Freshman of the Year status, joining Myles Taylor (2011-12), Marquis Weddle (2007-08) and Okechi Egbe (1999-2000).

A 6-7, 200-pound junior, Bukumirović currently ranks in the top-15 in the OVC in double-doubles (7, second), field goal percentage (.515, second), rebounding (7.83 per game, third), scoring (13.73 points per outing, 11th), three-point field goals made (1.43 per contest, 14th) and blocked shots (0.83 per game, 14th). He also leads the team in field goals made (153) and ranks second in steals (36).

Bukumirović has scored in double figures 21 times this season, including six outings of at least 20 points. That includes a career-best 28-point effort on 12-of-15 shooting at Tennessee Tech on Dec. 20 and clutch performances in impressive nonconference wins at UNLV (23 points on Nov. 4) and at Bradley (20 points on Nov. 12). He also posted a 22-point, 12-rebound effort at Florida State on Nov. 18, becoming the first Skyhawk to score at least 20 points in a double-double against a Power 4 opponent since Benzor Simmons (30 points, 10 rebounds) at Missouri on Nov. 17, 2009.

Shortly thereafter, Bukumirović became only the ninth UT Martin player in the program's NCAA Division I Era (since 1992) to record a double-double in three straight games, accomplishing that feat against Brescia (Nov. 25), Charleston Southern (Dec. 2) and Alabama State (Dec. 7). His all-around game was on full display on Jan. 3 against Eastern Illinois as he accounted for seven points with career-highs of 14 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and four steals. That was the most rejections of any Skyhawk against an OVC rival since at least 2002 and was the first individual game with at least 12 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and four steals in NCAA Division I men's basketball since at least the 2004-05 season (according to StatHead Basketball).

The Sjenica, Serbia native was voted OVC Player of the Week on Nov. 10 and boasts 11 multi-steal with six multi-block performances this season.

Deniusas follows up his 11 OVC Freshman of the Week awards – the second-most in the 48-year history of the award – as the 15th UT Martin representative to garner a spot on the All-OVC second team and as the 17th Skyhawk to be named to the OVC All-Newcomer squad.

The 6-9, 220-pound forward ranks in the top-15 in the league in blocked shots (0.87 per outing, 11th), free throw percentage (.756, 13th), rebounding (5.29 per contest, 14th) and scoring (12.48 points per outing, 15th). Deniusas also ranked in the top-15 in three-point field goals made (1.35 per game, 14th) in league play.

Deniusas led UT Martin in scoring 13 times (including seven occasions in OVC play) this season – pacing the team in both of those categories. He turned in double-digit scoring performances in 23 separate contests, including a career-best 25 points against Charleston Southern on Dec. 2. That was one of his three 20-plus-point efforts this season and ranked as the highest scoring game by any Skyhawk freshman against a NCAA Division I opponent since Feb. 14, 2012.

Hailing from Vilnius, Lithuania, Deniusas hauled in a double-double (11 points, career-high 11 rebounds) against SIUE on Jan. 15. His 14 points, seven rebounds, career-best four blocks, three assists and three steals against Lindenwood on Jan. 17 was only the 11th time that a freshman accumulated that stat line against a NCAA Division I opponent since the 2004-05 season according to StatHead Basketball.

Deniusas is the only UT Martin player to start in all 31 games this season, ranking first on the squad in three-point field goals made (43) and blocks (27). He ranks second on the squad in scoring, rebounding, field goals made (127), free throws made (90) and free throw percentage. He additionally has corralled at least six rebounds 17 times and distributed at least three assists on 10 different occasions.

The Skyhawks begin their quest for a title with an OVC Championship quarterfinals matchup on Thursday, March 5. No. 4 seed UT Martin will take on either No. 5 seed SIUE or No. 8 seed Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. inside the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.