UT Martin Makes Bid For Seventh Straight Victory In SIUE Series Tomorrow

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team looks to continue its recent success against the SIUE Cougars when the Ohio Valley Conference rivals clash tomorrow at First Community Arena. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Skyhawks (19-7, 11-4 OVC) have won six consecutive decisions against defending OVC Tournament champion SIUE, including its past two visits to Edwardsville. Earlier this season, UT Martin turned away the Cougars by a 65-59 margin, holding SIUE to a minuscule 17.4 percent (4-of-23) shooting from three-point range.

Filip Radaković (game-high 16 points, eight rebounds), Andrija Bukumirović (14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three assists) and 10-time OVC Freshman of the Week Matas Deniusas (11 points with a career-best 11 rebounds) helped the Skyhawks soar to the win over the Cougars back on Jan. 15 in Martin.

UT Martin is coming off a crushing 75-74 setback at Lindenwood on Thursday. In that game, the Skyhawks held a three-point advantage with 52 seconds to go before the Lions scored the final four points of the night - including a go-ahead game-winning jumper with 4.5 seconds remaining. Radaković's 13 points topped UT Martin, who also saw Bukumirović (11 points, team-best six rebounds) and AJ Hopkins (10 points) also score in double digits as the Skyhawks held Lindenwood to 23.5 percent (4-for-17) shooting beyond the three-point arc.

SIUE (17-9, 10-5 OVC) has won four straight and seven of its last eight decisions, including a convincing 74-56 home victory over Southeast Missouri on Thursday. Arnas Sakenis (15 points, career-high 16 rebounds), Jordan Pickett (season-best 15 points) and current OVC Player of the Week Tyler King (13 points) led the Cougars, who limited the Redhawks to 18.2 percent (4-for-22) shooting over the final 20 minutes.

Darrion Baker (15 points), Sakenis (12 points, eight rebounds), CJ Hall (11 points) and King (10 points) guided SIUE earlier this season against UT Martin.